You can’t rain on the Pride’s parade

For some people, rain symbolizes good luck and rejuvenation. But for others, rain puts a damper on well planned-out events. The 65th annual University of Arizona Band Day experienced a huge rain delay Saturday, Oct. 13 in Arizona Stadium.

High schools from all around the state came to perform at Band Day, including Apache Junction High School, Nogales High School and Cactus High School. Many of these bands felt the consequences of the rain delay.

Willow Canyon High School performs at the 65th annual Band Day at the University of Arizona Stadium on Saturday, October 13, 2018. At the end of the performances, each band is scored and then awarded.

At 8:30 a.m. The Pride of Arizona POA announced to Twitter, “Band Day is currently on rain delay until further notice. Stay tuned folks!” The POA made a point to follow with an announcement that Band Day had not been cancelled and that the anticipating marching bands were in a stand-still formation until they could perform.

Despite the delays, students at the Pueblo Magnet High School were still able to perform their morning numbers. According to Jesus Jacquez, the band director at Pueblo, “It [was] raining, but it was still fun. It was good to see them perform on the field.”

However, the rain changed a few aspects of their performance. “I think it was a little more hectic, because they moved our warm-up area,” Jacquez said. “Marching out in the rain was a bit different from anything we’ve done before.”

Pride of Arizona marching band performs at the 65th annual Band Day at the University of Arizona Stadium on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The Pride of Arizona band includes over 250 members including award-winning pom line dancers.

The marching band at Pueblo performed two pieces from Sinister Souls: The Dark Side of Disney. “Today, we presented ‘This is Halloween’ [from ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’] and ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ from ‘The Little Mermaid.’”

For the students in Pueblo’s current marching band, this was their first time performing in Band Day.

“This was the first time in six years that Pueblo has been to a Band Day,” Jacquez said. “So, you know, first experiences for all of the kids and whatnot.”

Pueblo’s marching drum major Mauro Diaz-Medina said that Band Day is something the students needed to mentally prepare for, but it is a good experience to be surrounded by a university marching band.

Willow Canyon High School marching band performs at the 65th annual Band Day held at the University of Arizona Stadium on Saturday, October 13. Band Day helps high school students gain experience as a group.

“I’m always nervous [to perform], but it’s just an even better experience and I’m surrounded by the best university,” Diaz-Medina said.

The rain delay did not affect the POA’s chances of performing in Band Day. According to Sophia Maytorena, a University of Arizona student and second-year POA member, the POA has three contingency plans for different types of weather.

“The POA will be able to put on a show [in the rain],” Maytorena said.

Their ability to march despite the rain delay is useful to high school students who attend Band Day. According Mia Castillo, another second-year POA member and alto saxophone player, “[Band Day] is for all students, because that’s where you inspire the most people to join the POA.”

Band Day is a beneficial recruiting event for UA. Some of the current POA members were influenced to join the marching band by observing their past performances on Band Day. “That is what inspired me to come [join the POA],” Castillo said.

Tanque Verde High School performs at the 65th annual Band Day at the University of Arizona Stadium on Saturday, October 13, 2018. This event includes over 30 schools form the Southwest area.

The 65th annual Band Day was an important event that took a lot of preparation not only from the bands who performed but also from the individuals who banded together to prepare for it. Maytorena is a member of the POA as well as the honorary band sorority Tau Beta Sigma, the group responsible for the set up of this year’s Band Day.

“It takes about 50 or 60 of us, and we all have different stations such as gate entry, dealing with the bands, warm ups, parking and registration, so we all have to pitch in,” Maytorena said. Tau Beta Sigma worked with assistant professor Yudai Ueda to prepare for this year’s Band Day.

Although the event did not go as planned, the 65th Annual Band Day was still a success in the eyes of the POA. “We still wanted to be able to put on a show,” Maytorena said.