The final reach: Sound of Pride hosts annual band banquet and spring concert

BY SABRINA WONG

At the end of each season, band and color guard students look forward to attending band banquet. In addition to band banquet, Sound of Pride (SOP) members also prepared for their first-ever spring concert this year. These two events served as an opportunity for the SOP family to come together one last time.

Band banquet took place at 7 p.m. on May 10 at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel ballroom located in Sunrise. The spring concert was held in the CCHS auditorium on May 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets to the banquet were $45 per person. The spring concert was free for anyone who wanted to watch the performances.

The annual banquet is hosted by the SOP Band Parent Association (BPA). The BPA is comprised of band and guard students’ parents who dedicate countless hours throughout the year to organizing events and fundraisers. Without the help of these volunteers, the success of the SOP would not be possible.

“It [the banquet] was an awesome way to spend one last night with my SOP family in celebration of all our accomplishments,” Band Captain Juseliz Lefebre-Vidal said.

Band Director Danielle Singer, color guard instructors and other band technicians passed out awards to students who excelled throughout the year, as well as those who showed tremendous improvement.

“When I was called up for the Most Improved Varsity Winter Guard Member Award, I felt honored to have been recognized for all the hard work I put forth during the season,” junior Sarah Qazi said. “I grew a lot this year, along with my team, and I’m so grateful that I was able to learn and perform with the people I call my family.”

“I’m so grateful that I was able to learn and perform with the people I call my family.”

Before the celebration, underclassmen elected seniors for specific senior superlative awards. The winners of these superlatives were announced during the banquet as well.

Attendees were served salad and bread as appetizers. The entrée consisted of chicken, potatoes and vegetables. Dessert was also provided, which was a large slice of creamy chocolate cake with a strawberry on the side. After students were finished eating and all the awards were presented, music blasted against the walls of the ballroom and people broke out dancing.

At the spring concert, the varsity winter guard, indoor winds, front ensemble, Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble all performed their own set pieces. The performance opened up with the only color guard show and ended with the seniors singing the “Band Song.”

The “Band Song” is exclusive to band and color guard members. It is often sung before competitions as a symbol of good luck, and seniors sing it together at the very last performance of the year. In this case, the closing of the spring concert signified the closing of the band season.

“During my freshman year in color guard, my brother, who was a senior in band at the time, sat at home with me the night before our first competition of the season and taught me all of the words to the ‘Band Song,’” senior Alexandra Porras said. “Since then, every time I sang those words, I thought of not only my beloved brothers and sisters in the SOP family, but also my brother by blood who I would’ve never joined this program without.”

As one final hurrah, band and color guard students celebrated the end of the season at band banquet and performed for the very last time together at the spring concert.

Photo by The Lariat Photography