Sophomore Abigail Warrington is one of many musicians in the Medical Lake High School band program who performed during an Aug. 31 assembly.
Before first period starts at Medical Lake High School, the sound of music can be heard from behind the auditorium. If a person looks into the room they will see several students playing instruments, some of whom appear to be tired.
"We're still waking up," band vice president Emilie Browning said. "Once we get into our funk, we're pretty energetic."
The Medical Lake High School band is gearing up for its first appearance in the Autumn Leaf Festival Parade in Leavenworth on Sept. 24, one of the many events they will perform in this year.
The program is coming off another successful year, which included the marching band taking first place in the A Division at the Wenatchee Apple Blossom Parade last May and Nick Isherwood, who returns at drum major, finished third in solo guitar category at the state Solo/Ensemble contest.
The program, which has 70 members between the concert, jazz and marching bands, welcomed several new freshmen, which Browning noted "has a lot of raw talent." She is excited to see how they transition into high school band.
"High school is more about getting ready for the next big performance after you've finished one," Browning said. "It's a little more stringent schedule where middle school is more leisurely. Middle school is where the seeds are planted and high school is where they grow. And Mr. (Craig) Johnson is the photosynthesis in that analogy."
Browning added that turnout for band camp was the highest she had seen in the four years she attended.
Johnson is in his sixth year of running the band program at Medical Lake.
He said this year's group has the potential for another "amazing year."
"Every day is a ton of fun," Johnson added.
Like sports teams, the year for the band program began before school started. Browning and the other executive officers spent time selecting music and helping organize upcoming fundraisers.
"But it's not the leadership that does everything, everyone helps," Browning said. "Everyone has to contribute for band."
Browning said Sofia Novochekhova, Gabriel Mangione and Brandon Scheer attended Drum Corps summer camp where they learned some new steps to add to the marching band's routine.
"It's simple things, like when we count off, the way we turn and more yelling," Browning added. "It's simple stuff but it makes a difference."
The band has several other events lined up, including the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in February, the Bellevue Jazz Festival in May, which they will perform at for the first time in a couple of years. Students are also preparing for the Washington Music Educators Association's All-State Instrumental and Choral Festival and the All Solo/Ensemble festival. The bands will do their annual performances at school and athletic events, as well as the Spokane Veterans Home in November, Lakeland Village in December and the Honor Flight in April.
"We have all of these opportunities for such a small school, we get to put ourselves out there," Browning said. "I think we're doing a great job representing Medical Lake."
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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