Kick-off performance scheduled for Oct. 14
Morgan Hill – After surviving “Hell Week,” better known as band camp, Live Oak Emerald Regime Marching Band members are ready to start another busy season, kicking off with a performance Oct. 14 and their first home football game on Sept. 15.
The Emerald Regime’s 45 members are a committed bunch, according to director Greg Bergantz. The band finished a grueling week of practice this summer to learn their new show, “Prince of Egypt,” and will spend another week at “away camp” at Bret Harte High School in Angels Camp.
One of the challenges the band faces, Bergantz said, is declining membership. Because its numbers have dropped, the band will be competing in “Class A” instead of “AA” this year.
Class “AA” bands can have up to 80 members; class “A” is composed of bands with the least amount of members.
“Two years ago, when I arrived at Live Oak, we marched and competed with 64 band and color guard members; It’s my understanding that this was the smallest Live Oak band in many years,” Bergantz said. “We were proud to outscore and outperform much larger bands of up to 80 students and won first place in our class.”
Last year, Bergantz said, the band also competed in class AA but only fielded 56 students. The band again won first place against bands with up to 80 members. This year, the band has shrunk down to 45 total band and color guard members and will be forced to compete in the smallest “Class A” throughout the competitive season.
The reason for the decline, Bergantz said, is there are fewer students signing up for band at Britton Middle School, Live Oak’s main feeder school, since the elementary music program was cut down to one music teacher to be shared among nine Morgan Hill Unified School District schools, he said.
Another difficulty students face is fitting in all of the courses required for graduation, including P.E. and applied arts classes, if they continue to take band as an elective in high school, Bergantz added.
But despite diminished numbers, the Emerald Regime members are hardworking and enthusiastic, Bergantz said, and are looking forward to an exciting season.
Band members will participate in five competitions this year, including the Western Band Association Championships in November.
Another highlight for band members this year will be marching in the San Jose Holiday Parade in downtown San Jose as a part of the Silicon Valley All-Star Band. Forming the all-star band this year are the Emerald Regime, Gilroy High School’s band, and bands from Valley Christian High and Independence High schools. The combined band first performed in San Francisco last year during the Chinese New Year Parade; and Bergantz said it will hopefully march in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.
To cap off the season, Emerald Regime members will be traveling to Scandinavia during spring break in April on one of the band’s “Trips of a Lifetime” that are scheduled approximately every two years. The band has traveled extensively in Asia and Europe, performing for diverse audiences. Bergantz said on this trip, the band will visit Copenhagen and Oslo and perform at Tivoli Gardens, a school in Denmark and on a cruise ship during the trip to Oslo and through Norwegian fjords.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
