Percussionists Beat Area Competition

With an unconventional performance featuring Japanese drums and dancing cymbal players, percussionists from the Thousand Oaks High School band have won the highest honor in the region for their playing.

It was their second consecutive regional championship from the American Drum Line Assn., which judges college and high school percussion groups in Southern California.

The group of 27 students beat 15 other bands from throughout Southern California with a performance that band director Bill Hoehne said was more artistic than most.

“A lot of standard coaches, they have [their students] put on the drums and play loud and fast and furious,” he said. “But we had a show that was the envy of everyone. It was absolutely fabulous.”

The performance, designed by percussionists Lance Delgado and Lynn Varta, featured students playing Japanese drums with natural skin heads. The drums produce a mellow, earthy sound.

Instead of traditional band garb, the students wore robes of black, green and silver, the school’s colors. Cymbal players danced during the performance.

Next year, the group plans to take its show to a national championship, Hoehne said. The Thousand Oaks High School Lancer Band and Color Guard will give a free concert June 1 from 2 to 6 p.m. in the community park next to the school.