20th Annual RBV Band and Color Guard Field Tournament to Take Place Saturday, November 16th
20 Bands and color guard teams to showcase in season-ending competition pioneered by Rancho Buena Vista High School
November marks a major milestone year for Rancho Buena Vista’s Annual Rancho Buena Vista Band and Color Guard Field Tournament, with the school celebrating the event’s 20th year.
On Saturday, November 16th, nineteen marching bands from high schools across Southern California will again converge at RBV’s stadium to compete in the contest that marks the end of the marching band season before state championships begin.
RBV Principal Dr. Jose Villarreal sums up the excitement: “The 20th Annual Rancho Buena Vista Band and Color Guard Field Tournament is a testament to the talent and dedication of our scholars and musicians.
“Under the leadership of Band Director, Eric Weirather, our program has garnered recognition from our local community as well as national acclaim. We are thrilled to mark this milestone and express our gratitude for the sacrifices and rewards that come with it.
“A diverse group of Longhorns, from seasoned veterans to eager newcomers, will unite to participate in rigorous practices and training sessions, culminating in captivating field shows that showcase the exceptional talent of our Band and Color Guard scholars.”
Building a Powerhouse Program
Weirather joined RBV 25 years ago when there was no stadium and football games were played at Vista High School. It was his dream of building a stadium for a school marching band that got the ball rolling.
He recalls how students went door to door to persuade people to vote for a bond to get a stadium built until it was eventually awarded. “The really cool thing was that the architect was a band parent, so I was able to help design the stadium,” he remembers. “I wanted to make sure it was really well designed in order to host marching band tournaments.”
This included 3500 seats on the Home side and one of the highest-positioned press boxes in Southern California.
Cut to this week’s event and 2,000-3,000 parents will watch their students compete, and another 1000 students will perform. “It’s going to be packed!” laughs Weirather.
The event begins around 2:15 pm and lasts until 9 pm. Each band has 15 minutes to get on the field and play their competition show - a performance that lasts between 7-11 minutes. Adjudicators from the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association will judge and score the bands.
RBV makes up the 20th band of the tournament but because they are the host school, tradition dictates they are not allowed to compete on the day. They are able to perform and are listed as the tournament’s exhibition band. Therefore, they gain scores in the same way as the other bands, which go towards the RBV band’s overall championship scores. The award ceremony is at the end of the night.
Dedicated Student Musicians & Performers
Marching bands in the competition vary in size, with the largest boasting over 200 participants; RBV’s band is currently 108 students. Every student volunteers for at least four hours on the day of the event, which includes setup, tear down and clean up.
“My motto is ‘Leave it better than when you found it’”, says Weirather. “We prep band students to be ambassadors of the school and the town; to be extremely helpful and polite. We try to make it a very classy event, and to hopefully make it the visiting students’ favorite tournament.”
He describes how marching bands have become very theatrical and that most have a theme that is worked on throughout the entire season to create ‘an experience’ for both students and the audience.
This year, RBV’s theme is entitled ‘Sand Man’ and is based on a little girl having dreams throughout one night set to various music including Taylor Swift and Metallica.
Each Year is Special and Unique
When asked what makes the event special to him after 20 years at the helm, Weirather points to the marching band experience as a whole, both preparation and event.
“The students are very passionate about the music. It provides a great outlet and helps them grow into young adults. They’re amazing. The event brings the community together to help students, and their parents chip in because it takes them all to make this successful. The students develop leadership skills through all of this, so it’s a wonderful experience for everybody.”
Hot on the heels of the competition are two other exciting highlights for the RBV marching band: On December 3, they will be honored for the second year in a row as the KUSI County Band of the Year. After that, the band will gear up to perform at the California All-State Music Education Conference in January 2025. The RBV Band is one of only two high school bands in the state selected to perform at the event.