Marching band takes first place

The Sahuarita Mustangs marching band won first place among 13 high school bands that marched in last week’s Cotton Bowl Parade in Dallas, Texas, says Sahuarita High School Band Director Christine Garcia.

Six bands selected to play at the Cotton Bowl Classic halftime show joined several bands from local Texas schools to march in the parade, which ran through downtown Dallas on Jan. 1, the day before the nationally televised college bowl game.

Four judges evaluated the performance based on musicianship, marching, percussion and color guard, Garcia said. The marching band played the Sahuarita High School fight song, written by the Mustangs’ very first band director.

“I think that gave us a unique edge, because most high schools use university fight songs, and change the lyrics,” she said.

The parade was televised through the Dallas-Fort Worth FOX station, and Garcia says the Mustangs received 30 seconds of air time — more than any other high school band. The announcers profiled the town of Sahuarita and local features such as the Titan Missile Museum and the local mining industry.

The 64-member marching band also won second place in its division for its performance of Western-themed music at the half-time show.

“I’m so proud of these kids,” said Garcia, who described the six-day trip as hectic and exciting.

“We were on and off buses constantly. The students got to see what it’s really like to go on tour as a band.”

Garcia said they would love to enter another college bowl in the next year, if finances allow for it.

Along with proceeds from their own fundraisers, the Cotton Bowl trip was funded with the help of nearly $18,000 in tax credits and donations from the community.

“It was truly the efforts of the communities of Green Valley and Sahuarita that helped us achieve our goals this year.”

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726