Band has successful year

Photo courtesy of Juan Diego Catholic High School

+ Enlarge

Juan Diego Catholic High School band members perform at a school pep rally. A big highlight for the band was going to State to the Band Festival.

DRAPER — The 2008-2009 school year marked the most successful year for the Juan Diego Catholic High School bands and percussion groups. The program continued to grow under the direction of David Faires with the addition of Nathan Watson who taught all of the percussion groups and classes.

The Percussion Ensemble participated for the first time in several region and local percussion festivals. The Drum Line and Pep Band completed another strong year of school spirit with performances at the State Football Championships and Basketball Tournament. This marked the first year where the majority of the band students participated in the school solo festival with a number of region qualifiers.

Carey McComas represented the school at State on French horn. The highlights of the year for the Concert Band were the first ever Halloween Concert, the annual Christmas Concert, and the Region Band Festival. The largest accomplishment of this year came from the Jazz Band, which qualified for the State Jazz Festival in only its second year of existence. This marks the first time that a Juan Diego Music Ensemble has ever qualified for State. The Jazz Band also received the highest rating at the State Festival among all of the 3A classification Bands that participated. Jazz drummer Max Dail was recognized as an Outstanding Soloist at the State Jazz Festival.