The St. James Red Regiment Band has kicked off the 2012-13 school year with a jam-packed schedule of activities. Band camp started in mid-July and ran until the start of school in August. Students braved the record heat to practice their marching program for eight hours a day, as well as have lots of laughs with water fun day, tribal day, superhero day and cross-dress day.  The hard work has paid off as the band is ahead of schedule this year on learning the field program.

    On the first day of school, the band travelled to Columbia to watch Drum Corps International’s Big, Loud & Live broadcast in a special presentation at a movie theater. Meet the Band Night followed the next week and due to weather, was held in the High School Commons. Parents, friends and family members of band students attended to learn about Band Boosters and listen to a portion of the program music. It was also an opportunity for people to sign up to help with band activities.
    On Monday, August 20, guest speaker Scott Lang provided a three-hour motivational program to get band members, staff and parents fired up and excited about being part of the band. His presentation included statistics on how band helps kids be more successful. He stressed the fact that band is one of the few activities where every individual’s success is dependent on everyone else, and how important it is to support and help one another. He talked about leadership, focus and working together to make the band stronger, better and more competitive. Lang’s frenetic energy was contagious and inspiring. That energy carried over into practice and students are still pumped and talking about the workshop.
    The Band Boosters held their first fundraiser for the year on August 25 with Trivia Night. Michael and Marcia Menendez organized the event and the topic for the evening was “A Night at the Movies.” The Middle School cafeteria was filled with band supporters and everyone had an enjoyable evening. The event was considered a big success with the boosters raising over $1,400 for the band.
    The band performed a portion of their field program called “Ritu: the Awakening” at the first football game on August 30. The band is ahead of schedule on learning the program this year and all the students agree that it is “awesome!” St. James residents should make every effort to come out to contests or football games to view the show.
    Both the middle school and high school bands marched in the Grape and Fall Festival Parade on Saturday, September 8. Dalton Gregory did an outstanding job with the trumpet solo in the parade song A Mi Subuelos. 
    The first contest of the marching season will be held in Sullivan on September 29. This is the closest contest the band will be attending, and all band friends and supporters are encouraged to attend and support the Red Regiment. The Band Boosters would like to thank all the parents and friends of the band who have helped with these activities and gotten the students, equipment and uniforms ready for marching season.