Award-Winning Talent

Pali High Band, Color Guard and Drumline Earn Awards for ‘One Giant Leap’ at Recent Competitions

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

Palisades Charter High School’s band, color guard and drumline have been hard at work on the field—and recent competitions prove it. The group has won a number of awards for its performance “One Giant Leap.”

After virtual rehearsals and being unable to compete due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students were presented with the opportunity to return to the field this year. Color guard and drumline started rehearsing the show in mid-June, and band camp began Thursday, July 29, but preparation for the show dates back to June 2020.

Band Director Tyler Farrell said “One Giant Leap” takes the audience on a musical, space-themed journey.

The show begins with Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter,” followed by “Mission: Apollo” by Tyler S. Grant. Farrell said the team’s third movement is entirely original, featuring a piece by Farrell and percussion director Michael Shlotter.

“It’s an evolving piece where you feel this sense of weightlessness and like you’re floating in space, taking in the beautiful colors, and the stars and planets in front of you,” he explained.

The show ends with a piece called “Kingfishers Catch Fire” by composer John Mackey. Farrell said it’s an exciting end to the program, which is ultimately a celebration.

“It makes you feel like you’ve really achieved what you’ve set out to achieve and you’re looking toward the horizon, looking toward the future to keep going,” he said to the Palisadian-Post. “This show is kind of fitting for us too because space is the tangible object. We can all visualize leaving Earth and going to space, but the staff and I have been thinking and alluding this to the kids. It’s really about setting a goal and going through either a little bit of turmoil or challenges and overcoming them.

“We really felt like this was appropriate coming out of the COVID lockdowns and celebrating being back together. We’ve made it through this challenging time, let’s enjoy it together and keep going.”

And the show impressed judges: This year’s team attended the 2021 Western Band Association Conquistador Classic at Don Lugo High School on Saturday, November 6, where they placed first in Class 2A and won awards for Best Music, Best Visual and Best General Effect.

Most recently, the group attended the WBA Regional Championships at Trabuco Hills High School on Saturday, November 13, where they tied for second place in Class 2A.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this group of young adults,” Farrell said to the Post. “They preserved through ups and downs, twists and turns, and had a very successful season.”

Although the year’s competitive marching band season is now over, winterguard and indoor drumline are gearing up for their own competitive season, which will run February through April 2022 across Southern California.

Farrell said the group is also having its Winter Band Concert on Friday, December 10, at 7 p.m. in Mercer Hall where they will perform “One Giant Leap” for the last time.

“We would love a huge turnout from the Palisades community,” Farrell concluded.