SIMI VALLEY : 18 High School Bands Compete

Eighteen high school marching bands from Southern California descended on the football stadium at Simi Valley High School on Saturday afternoon for a six-hour competition.

Braving the warm weather in wool uniforms, students marched and played in front of an audience of about 250 parents and friends at the 23rd annual Simi Valley Band Spectacular, the primary fund-raiser for the high school’s booster club.

The annual event typically nets several thousand dollars from admission, entry fees and concessions, said David Granish, an organizer and a parent with two children in Simi Valley High School’s band.

“This is considered a good competition by band directors at other schools. The bands are just starting the season, and this lets them see what the other schools have got,” Granish said.

Bands were divided into three categories, based on their size and the caliber of the music they were playing. Seven bands from Ventura County were represented.

As the host, the Simi Valley High School band did not participate in the competition and played an exhibition performance at the end.

But band members, who were not under the pressure of competition, were still nervous. “I’m playing a solo tonight, and I’ve got butterflies in my stomach,” said Cooley, who plays trombone. “The hours of waiting and the anticipation is the worst part.”