Sunlake High Marching Band Prepares for Semi-Finals

The Sunlake High Soaring Sound marching band is on its way to the FMBC State Semi-Finals Saturday after earning straight superiors at the District 5 Marching Performance Assessment Nov 5.

But it's more than the desire to win that drives these students to put in the long hours required of them.

We're like a family, drum major Katelyn Nguyen, 17, said. If one person is missing, everyone feels it, she said.

Most high school bands are more performance-based than competitive, band director Tonya O'Malley said. "I might not have taken the competitive route, but I just have the right group of kids," she said.

"They're really motivated," O'Malley said.

O'Malley has been the Seahawks' band director for three years. The first year was a building year, she said.

"This is our second season as a competitive band, and our second season of earning straight superiors," O'Malley said. It also is only the second season the Sunlake High band has qualified for the semi-finals, she said.

The Sunlake band program emphasizes character development more than anything else, O'Malley said.

"Being with my friends in this journey has been so great," drum major Madeline Varieur, 17, said. "But I really enjoy being involved with the community," especially working with young students at Oakstead Elementary during Red Ribbon Week, she said.

We do a lot of community events, O'Malley said. "I'm always really proud to take them places, they represent our school and community really well," she said.

"They're not just talented musicians, they're also really good people."

Not all of the band members will go on to have careers in music, "but they will all be human beings," O'Malley said.

Both Nguyen and Varieur say O'Malley is the glue that holds this musical "family" together.

"We really appreciate her and all her experience. That's what makes us so successful," Nguyen said.

As for the semi-finals, O'Malley said she will be relieved when they are over.

"I'm looking forward to the performances. It's going to be an emotional day, they've worked so hard for this," O'Malley said.

Whether the band places at this weekend's competition or not, "We could walk away after it is over and just be happy to know we've succeeded by giving the best performance possible," O'Malley said.

The semi-finals will be held at Riverview High, Admission is $14. The Sunlake High band is tentatively scheduled to perform at about 1 p.m.