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whats your top ten in regards to concert bands?

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2003 8:12 pm
by nizmo
who are the top ensembles of CA?

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2003 6:54 pm
by drumcorpmello
my opinion, in NO order -
Vista
Rancho Bernardo
Mt. Carmel
Poway

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2003 8:24 pm
by dudewheresmycar
I agree with drumcorpmello - Vista, Rancho Bernardo, Mt. Carmel, and Poway have the top concert ensembles in California. I'd also add Thousand Oaks to the mix. They've got some awesome musicians.

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2003 11:35 pm
by Hostrauser
I know your guys' whole universe is the SoCal scene, but it's pretty rude to ignore the rest of the state. :wink:

Not that the ensembles you listed aren't very good, but there are others. Key Poulan's ensembles at Buchanan HS in Clovis are top notch, as are Roxanna Macheel's ensembles at Benicia HS. Both of those schools have appeared at the BOA National Concert Festival, as did Mt. Carmel a few years back.

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2003 9:31 am
by Personal
I Personally, do not get to see all of the groups with known names, but I have seen Etiwanda in concert, and they were pretty darn good. I always enjoy a good concert, so if anyone knows of any in the SoCal area that are coming up, than please let me know, I will drive to see them.

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2003 6:05 pm
by drumcorpmello
Vista and Poway went to BOA last year and Vista plans on going again next year

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2003 7:27 pm
by LovableSheep
Not to "toot my own horn", but our wind ensemble just performed at an SCSBOA festival in Moorpark, and two of the judges said we were one of the best groups they have ever heard perform in a festival setting. The one giving our clinic couldn't stop just saying "wow" and hardly had anything bad to say. So much for "Westlake sucks, go to Thousand Oaks". (We're in the same district and many middle school students have to face a decision of where to go for high school)

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:48 am
by Personal
That is really cool. Chino's first festival is not until teh 19th. I think it kind of sucks that we have to wait so long to have a festival... But, what are you goin to do? By the way, my director was talking about it yesterday, and said that Mt. Carmel, and Rancho Bernardo have great groups. So, I hope to see them some day. Also, LovableSheep, I wouldn't mind seeing your group sometime this year, especially with a review like that. What pieces are youplaying this year?

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2003 3:13 pm
by LovableSheep
Personal wrote:Also, LovableSheep, I wouldn't mind seeing your group sometime this year, especially with a review like that. What pieces are youplaying this year?
I think I posted it in the "What pieces are you playing this year?" thread, but it's probably somewhere on the 1st page and I don't remember what I put and don't want to look, so I'll just put it here. Right now we are playing Blue Shades by Frank Ticheli and Masque by Kenneth Hesketh. If you're going to be around the Thousand Oaks area on the 25th, we're going to be at their festival then.

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2003 1:12 pm
by nizmo
drumcorpmello wrote:Vista and Poway went to BOA last year
so did Mt. Carmel

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 8:54 am
by Personal
My Director just recently came back from a conference, and said that he was lucky enough to see Rancho Bernardo, and said that they were great. Being that he is my director, I will take his word for it, but MAN do I want to see these groups. I want to know their concert schedules if anyone does, please let me know it. It would be much appreciated.

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2003 7:51 pm
by someguywhodoesthings
I know RB and Vista are great and all, but what about San Clemente?
They are consistenly one of the best High School Wind Ensembles in So. California.

La Puente High School

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2003 1:01 pm
by jhchichiri
Okay, this was when I was in band at Los Altos during the late 90's. I remember hearing the bands in our district play at our festival. Well, being the "supposedly" top band in our district at the time (back then we were the only band in open class) it gave the students a big head even though upper classmen and directors always tell us to really respect other bands. Anyways, it was a festival during my freshman year. I was really blown away by the performance given by La Puente. The power and dynamic contrast was incredible. And the tone at those powerful moments WOW. Even though they didn't play the songs they really milked those songs for all its worth. And their a small band too!! So I learned early on not to be naive about small bands. Bigger bands that can be more selective with their musicians are great. But I really got to give props to those directors that have to make only one concert ensemble sound so great!!

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2003 1:33 am
by ctr
nizmo wrote:
drumcorpmello wrote:Vista and Poway went to BOA last year
so did Mt. Carmel
i think it's awesome that out of 16 bands chosen from around the whole country, 3 of them came from right here in so cal.