By: Annabelle Pan

Graphics Editor

Nearing the end of their season, the LGHS Winter Percussion prepares for its final competitions. Their show theme this year is Coven, and they act as a group of witches gathering to perform an immortality ritual. Standing atop a tiered prop, the winter percussion moves together with broomsticks and instruments on a custom-made floor.

They participated in a Northern California Percussion Alliance (NCPA) competition at Fremont High School in February and earned a sub-total score of 63.100, coming in third place out of six in their division, surpassing Saratoga High School. However, because their prop was too large for the performance guidelines, the group lost two points. Progressing in the winter percussion competition schedule, the group drove to Union City on Mar. 14 and competed in a Winter Guard International (WGI) competition at James Logan High School. They received a score of 76.105, placing seventh out of twelve in their division. Because some of the juniors took the March SAT offered at school the same morning, the members struggled with fitting in practice time, but they delivered an incredible performance nonetheless.

On Mar. 28, the winter percussion has another competition at James Logan High School, but this time for the NCPA season. They will also compete in the NCPA Championships on Apr. 11, for which the ensemble currently practices their musical parts and choreographical alignment both in sectionals and as a large group.

This year, the winter guard, a continuation of the marching band color guard, is following a different competition schedule from the winter percussion. Starting with the California Color Guard Circuit (CCGC) Evaluations Performance in late January, the group competed in four other CCGC events on Feb. 14, Mar. 7, and Mar. 14. Their last performance is on Mar. 28 for the CCGC Championships at Independence High School. The winter guard has no live musical accompaniment since they are performing separately from the winter percussion group. Instead, the team has opted for broadcasting music through speakers, allowing guard members to focus on their choreography and flag throws. 

The LGHS bands are also busy this month, since they had a combined concert with the Fisher Middle School bands on Mar. 13. All bands from both schools performed at the McAfee Center at Saratoga High School, but they did not present any combined pieces in the interest of time. The LGHS bands will also be attending the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Festival later this month to perform their repertoire and practice sightreading. Once the CMEA organization releases the results, the groups can listen to feedback from the adjudicators and determine areas of improvement. Through a busy month of preparation and performances, the LGHS bands, winter percussion, and winter guard prove their commitment and dedication to their respective musical groups.