Cypress Bay Band is Proud to Toot Their Own Horn

SCHOOL NEWS CYPRESS BAY BAND IS PROUD TO TOOT THEIR OWN HORN

By Beverly Perkins

It has been a trying time especially with a quiet one-year interruption, but Cypress Bay High School’s (CBHS) music program has had a successful start to the school year. The “Sound of Thunder” has been making plenty of noise this fall as they marched their way into the top 10 at the Florida Marching Bands Championships (FMBC) in Ocala, performed in a two-night winter showcase, and mentored their younger neighborhood middle school students. “The success of a marching season relies on many factors, but one critical ingredient is the student body! Usually, seniors and juniors are leading by experience. Sophomores can rely on one past season, and freshmen are the ones who must learn everything. So, beginners are usually 1/4 of the band. With the COVID19 interruption, our beginners were sophomores and freshmen and counted for almost 50% of our marching band this year! So that was one big challenge, added to the fact that the summer was rainier than usual, and many rehearsals had to happen indoors, focusing on music only rather than choreography drills,” explained Stephanie Bescherelle, Sound of the Thunder Parent & CBBPA President.

This year the program has 130 registered students with 79 who participated in marching season (May-November). Cypress Bay offers three levels of Concert Band (one jazz band, one percussion ensemble, and one color guard ensemble). Marching band is an afterschool addition to these classes which is open to all band members and color guard students. But besides all the accolades and competitions, playing at all the home football games will always remain a highlight.

Despite all the difficulties, making it to the FMBC Finals in Ocala and placing 9th out of 17 bands in the same size category was quite an accomplishment. CBHS students worked long hours, developed resilience, and forged lifelong friendships and memories preparing for the competition at the World Equestrian Center.

As one knows, it takes a village to get so far; the 10 coaches/marching instructors collaborated with CBHS Band Director Brett Dawson and dedicated themselves to making sure the beginners would reach the required performance levels. Student leaders went above and beyond to keep the group together while relaying all the necessary information. Parents were behind the scenes making sure costumes, props, food, and fundraising were above par, and the school administration gave some extra love and support.

After Thanksgiving, the “Sound of Thunder” switched to its “Concert & Jazz” season. Their Winter Extravaganza concert filled the school auditorium with two nights of live music which included the entire CBHS chorus. More concerts and competitions are scheduled in the upcoming months such as Winter Color Guard and Solo and Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Concert Band Music Performance Assessments (MPA).

Although these students have an incredibly busy schedule between academics and practice, they still find time to mentor 8th- grade students at Tequesta Trace and Falcon Cove Middle Schools every week. "Ensuring good communication between the local school programs is key to reaching a high level of benefits for all band and guard students along their artistic journey,” added Bescherelle. "I am really proud of the Cypress Bay Band students so far this year. They have worked very hard and done a great job performing in real performing ensembles such as marching band, concert band, jazz band, and guard. With half of the Marching Band members never having marched before this year and no one marching for the past two years, their accomplishments this season were tremendous,” exclaimed CBHS Band Director Brett Dawson.

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