Football games have been the center of American high school activities for decades. On August 25, 2023, Los Osos High School’s first home football game of the season took place, kicking off the school year with a definite bang. However, the most exciting part of the football experience is the halftime show.
This year, the Los Osos Regiment performed for hundreds of their peers, giving us a sneak peek into their competition theme for the season. Color guard waved neon blue flags high, the band marched with pristine confidence, and the drum line pulled off rhythms with absolute precision. As they led the football team to the field, I could feel the drum beats pounding through my very core. Perfectly synchronous would be an understatement for the high-achieving music program at Los Osos, and the Marching Band, Drum Line, and Color Guard Associations made sure to play their hearts out on the field.
After every touchdown and successful play, the regiment sat on the sidelines with their instruments, playing themes from Spider-Man and Star Wars to hype up the student body and our football team. Everyone remained in happy spirits as the team charged their way to victory, and Junior Katie Rudy and Senior Isaac Shing conducted their ensemble with flawless motions.
As the game continued, the Marching Band, Drumline, and Color Guard all set up on the east side of the field, prepping for their exciting performance. Color Guard waved flags as they rehearsed, and a large crew consisting of students, parents, and volunteers all helped set up the halftime performance set. The band tuned on the sidelines as Band Director Encina conducted and soon the performers made their way to the field.
Although it was short, “Stranger Within” fascinated the LOHS student body as instruments played songs from the “Stranger Things” soundtrack. A mix of melodies and harmonies perfectly enveloped the chilling motifs of the popular television show.
“We have a few things to work on, but we did pretty well,” said Encina. Many members of the Regiment and Color Guard programs had a very optimistic reaction to their performance, and all were deeply satisfied with this year’s first halftime show.
Current Drum Major Katie Rudy said, “I think the halftime show on Friday night went great. We all got to show off our hard work and leave it all on the field.”
Many more assertive remarks also came from Marching Band students Nick Awad, Jamie Swilling, Jackie Witke, and Color Guard student Ella Sinica.
Junior Swilling said, “I felt very successful…We surprisingly did well without taping the field [but] I had a feeling we were going to fail without the tape.”
On another note, people were very excited about the competition season.
“I am pretty excited for this year’s competition season. Our show seems great and I’m looking forward to seeing what the new season will bring us,” said Junior Awad.
It is clear the students in Encina’s program love what they do and are very similar in their enthusiasm with this year’s competition season. Because of their use of inventive elements to showcase the “Stranger Things” story, the Regiment program is confident they’ll perform with exceptional mastery and I couldn’t agree more!
In light of recent events, Regiment and Color Guard also ceased band camp at the beginning of August in preparation for this year’s season, as well as the added plus to bonding with the Marching Band.
Junior Witke and many other students loved the experience. “Band camp this summer was really fun. We did a lot of hard work for the season and had our first-ever spirit day for the band, which was fun to dress up for,” said Witke.
Accordingly, Sophomore Sinica said, “Band camp was fun. I got to hang out with all my friends and learn new stuff. It was hot, though.” Sinica speaks truths about the pitfalls of band camp: scorching heat and endless hours of rehearsal. Outlying students, who are not in Encina’s music program, can not comprehend the amount of work the Regiment, Color Guard, Drumline, and Orchestra programs put in.
Hours of rehearsal, a certain level of extreme diligence, and a multitude of practice and knowledge in music are all required and acquired throughout each school year. Vigorous tenacity and thorough dedication are expectations of the high-achieving music program, and it is clear Encina’s Regiment, Drum Line, and Color Guard Programs all reach the high standards of this sacred art form.
