The PaliHi Marching Band’s competition piece this year is “West Side Story.” Photo: RICH SCHMITT
By CHAZ PLAGER
With the start of each new school year at Palisades Charter High School, there is also a new Pali Band season.
And when we say new, we really mean new. Peter Ye, the program director, is taking a fresh approach to this season’s band show after a rather lackluster performance last year. “We tried writing our own show last year, which took a lot of time and money and just didn’t have a result worth the cost,” Ye said.
The program As It Seems was an original composition by the members of the music department. The department has done original compositions before, but last year’s program was not a favorite with any of the judges, and the band took last place in most of the competitions it entered.
This year, the Pali Band will be performing a routine based on West Side Story, which the Band bought the rights to use. “I think this routine may be challenging, but West Side Story is extremely recognizable and popular, even among our students,” said Ye. “I’m confident in the talent we’ve gathered this year, and I think we have a good shot at making it to finals this year.”
Rights can cost anywhere from $200 to $3,000, depending on what pop songs are in the program or if it contains famous compositions, such as those found in Lord of the Rings.
This year’s band program has a total of 55 competing students, 45 from the marching band and, for the largest member pool it’s had in years, 10 students in the color guard. Baton twirlers Grace and Noelle Hardy are joining the competitive side of the band for the first time as color guard members and may prove the secret weapon they needed.
They often perform at half-time at football games, giving residents a preview of the program.
This year’s program is coached by familiar faces Michael Schlotter, Alison Avina-Wyant, and her husband Ceasar. The Pali Band will be competing at its first show at Downey High School on October 5th. The Band usually has only five shows, but should they make it to the finals this year, there will be six.
In addition to Downey, on October 19, PaliHi Band will be competing at the Moorpark Battle of the Bands at Moorpark; the Hart Rampage at College of the Canyons on October 26; at the MB Competition at SoFi Stadium on November 4; and the SCSBOA Prelims at West Covina High School on November 16 (Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association).
If they advance out of the prelims, they will participate in the Championships on November 23 (Location TBD).
Show up, cheer them on and wish them luck for the season. If a resident would like to donate to the band program, which receives most of its funding from parents, go to https://givebutter.com/paliband.
The Palisades High School band performs at halftime of the football games.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT