The Pittsburg Excessive College Marching Present Band celebrated the brand new 12 months 9 hours forward of the remainder of their classmates this 12 months in Madrid, Spain.

Over the New Yr’s Day weekend, the band had the chance to indicate off their skills on the March of Wizard Kings parade within the historic city of Toledo, Spain. Drum main Michaela Aquina and 140 of her fellow bandmates carried out a melody of Christmas classics throughout their efficiency.

“We had been invited to carry out within the parade 4 years in the past,” Aquina stated. “However then the parade was canceled as a result of COVID.”

Many band members had been of their freshman 12 months of highschool when the invitation was given. Like Aquina, a number of band members had began out performing for the award-winning band in ninth grade and are actually of their senior 12 months.

For Aquina, performing for the individuals of Spain was particularly thrilling. Earlier than taking up the drum main place, Aquina performed the trumpet for the marching band.

“It’s such a privilege to be at these massive occasions,” she stated. “and to be the chief of the band is thrilling and an honor.”

The drum main’s function is to steer the marching band throughout rehearsals and performances. Her job is to hold out the directions of the band director relating to what must be carried out with the band.

Emily Dickt, additionally a Pittsburg Excessive senior, stated she was super-excited to have the ability to attend the journey earlier than she graduated. Dickt performs bells for the band.

“We had been considered one of two American bands that carried out on the parade,” she stated, explaining {that a} college band additionally attended. “It took us six months to organize for this journey, working towards for different performances all year long together with what we needed to carry out in Spain.”

Whereas in Spain, the band was capable of spend time touring Madrid, Toledo and the historic city of Segovia.

“Spain was wonderful, and the structure was out of this world,” Dickt stated.

In accordance with band Director Jennifer Martinez, the band’s 225 college students are 14 to 18 years outdated.

“We had two efficiency places deliberate, the primary being at Plaza de Zocodover in Toledo, the place we marched by way of the streets, making our solution to Metropolis Corridor simply outdoors Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo. For our second efficiency, we had been the one highschool band invited to carry out within the Cabalgata de Reyes Madrid parade. We had been additionally given the celebrated honor of main the Three Kings,” she stated.

Martinez stated the band gained first place this fall on the San Francisco Fleet Week Band Problem. The final time the occasion was held in 2019, the band additionally gained first place. In December, they carried out for the road renaming celebration in Oakland for Bay Space rapper Too $hort and carried out pregame twice and as soon as at halftime for 2 Warriors video games at San Francisco’s Chase Heart.

With solely six months to plan and put together, Martinez stated town of Pittsburg and the group got here collectively to assist the “March on Railroad” fundraising occasion on Railroad and Sixth Avenue in Pittsburg, the place they acquired a number of particular person and enterprise donations and alumni assist for the band’s journey to Spain.

Bridge renamed: The bridge at Oakley’s Creekside Park acquired a brand new identify final week when county and metropolis officers devoted the park to Mike Carlson, the late deputy director of the Contra Costa County Public Works Division. The Mike Carlson Bridge connects the sports activities fields to the Marsh Creek Regional Path.

In accordance with County Supervisor Diane Burgis, Carlson, who retired in 2019 after a 30-year profession, handed away July 28, 2022, leaving a decades-long legacy of defending the creeks and communities of Contra Costa County.

“Contra Costa County owes Mike Carlson a debt of gratitude for his a long time of tireless work for our native setting and the well being of our creeks,” Burgis stated. “He was dedicated to flood management and environmental conservation, however he was additionally at all times able to share a narrative with you or speak about how proud he was of his youngsters.”

Roni Gehlke might be reached at oakleynow@comcast.internet.