Capistrano Valley High School
Mission Viejo, Calif. – After a hard fought battle on the field with some of the most accomplished and talented marching bands in the state, Capistrano Valley High School was named state champion in its division at the annual California State Band Championships held November 21 in San Bernardino.
Competing schools are ranked in divisions according to the size of the band.
A total of 33 bands competed at the state championships in five divisions, which started at 9 a.m. and ran until nearly 10 p.m.
The 65-member Capistrano Valley High School band added to its impressive state championship win by also taking the top three sweepstakes trophies, which go to the school judged to be the best among several separate divisions. Sweepstakes were won in the most prestigious categories of High Music, High Effect and High Visual.
Senior Jeremy Burciaga also won a sweepstakes award as the outstanding soloist of the competition with his trumpet performance.
This year the school chose “The Music of Carmen” as its theme, which featured a spirited and visually stunning presentation of Bizet’s operatic masterpiece. The 10 members of the group’s Color Guard all dressed as the central character of Carmen, wearing flowing red dresses and red roses in their hair.
This most current win marks the second time in four years that Instrumental Music Director Andy Waldukat has delivered a state championship to the school.
“I will never forget the look of pride on each of the students’ faces on the return trip home,” said Waldukat. “I have personally witnessed first hand the struggles these students go through each season, overcoming fatigue at practice, learning difficult music, and having to integrate the music and movement with 65 other people on the field at the same time,” he said.
“These students have learned that hard work pays off and that they can work through challenges and find support in a team environment. Life skills are certainly a wonderful component to music education,” he said.
Officials from the Southern California Judging Association judged this year’s state competition.
The judges represented a variety of disciplines, including professional musicians, band directors, designers and choreographers. For more information about the CVHS music program, visit www.capomusic.org.
