DNHS Marching Band Resumes Competitions at RB, Poway Field Tournaments
The Del Norte Nighthawk Marching Band participated in its first competitions October 9th and October 23rd, participating in the Rancho Bernardo Field Tournament and Poway Invitational Field Tournament, respectively.
The RB Field Tournament was strictly an exhibition tournament, where bands were judged by professional adjudicators and given scores. Scores did not count for division placements and standings. The Poway Invitational Field Tournament gave its competitors the choice to either compete for division scores and standings, or receive ratings and comments from a professional adjudicator. Del Norte opted to receive ratings and comments.
Dr. Jennifer Kitelinger, the director of the music program at Del Norte, was extremely pleased with the band’s performance at the RB tournament. “I thought we did very well. I really do think our performance was in line with what we’ve done in past years. We may not have had as much music learned, but we had way more visuals.”
The marching band season resumed after a year of uncertainty and virtual instruction, and many programs in PUSD have struggled with a significant dip in participation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Ari Shiller, the Assistant Director of Music at Del Norte, comments that having two years of inexperienced members joining the program this year has impacted the way he teaches. “We’ve had to pace out instruction at a slower rate, and that has been effective in the long run. It’s slowed down the process overall, but it’s been necessary to get all the younger students up to speed on techniques they’ve never learned before.”
Del Norte’s marching show for the 2021 season is titled “The Sun, The Moon, and The Stars”. It is conducted by student drum majors Vivian Magahis (‘22), Karina Levinson (‘23), and Dylan Nguyen (‘23). The show also features 3 soloists, students Justin Chin (‘23), Alex Zakoor (‘22), and Olivia Vizzard (‘22). Chin plays flute, Zakoor plays soprano saxophone, and Vizzard is a visual soloist as part of the Del Norte Color Guard.
The Nighthawk Marching Band will compete at the Mt. Carmel Tournament of Bands on Saturday, October 30th. They will also compete at the Mira Mesa, Westview, and Chula Vista Field Tournaments in the weeks leading up to the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) division championships. Del Norte competes in the 5A division, and the 5A championships will be held at Del Norte on Saturday, November 20th.