Marching Band Life at St. Pius X High School

At St. Pius X High School, we have several spirit groups that show up to Varsity Football games. This includes Cheerleaders, Pantherettes (Drill Team),  X Crew, Color Guard, and of course the Panther Marching Band. This article is dedicated to the Marching Band. 

The marching band has a few sections: Woodwinds, High brass, Low Brass, and the Percussion (which are also split into Front Ensemble and Battery). Currently at the half time show the marching band is playing a piece called “Pandora Reopened” by Randall Standridge. The St. Pius X Panther Marching Band is instructed by director Robert Carlin and led by president and drum major Gia Cabacungan, along with a few other leaders, Marc Cabrera, the drum captain, and Jaren Lacey, the vice president.

Community and Leadership

Gia Cabacungan, band president and drum major, about to direct the band in a few songs to cheer on the football team. Photo: Libby Nunez

The marching band consists of one Flute player, three Clarinets, three Alto Saxophones, four Trumpets, four Trombones, two Tubas, three Bass Drums, two Snare drums, one Quad and four Keyboards. This totals out to 27 band members. We have a fairly small band, but it doesn’t matter, because we care more about quality than quantity. We love having more people, however a lot of us are really good at our instruments, so if we mess up everyone else playing usually distracts people.

The band is not really just a class, or an extra curricular, but it is more of a community. Most people in the band are friends with each other,  and usually whenever one of us needs help another one has our backs. I feel like having a small band isn’t a bad thing, as everyone gets closer to each other. Another special thing I’d like to emphasize about our band is our leadership, we have great leaders all across the board, with Gia Cabacungan as our president, Marc Cabrera as our Drumline Captain, and Jaren Lacey as Vice President, we have been able to accomplish more in band than I’ve ever imagined, and this is also thanks to the private tutors, Mr. Hector Morales, and Mr. Luke Holt. In the piece we play there is a section where the keyboards play a really fast solo, and I don’t think they would be able to do it without our great teachers, leaders, and just encouragement from the band as a whole. The band is mostly about staying positive and encouraging others, and that is what I think our leadership has taught me so far this year the most. 

A Day in the Life of a Band Member

(From left) Marc Cabrera (Quads) and Jackson O'Neil (Snare) preparing to play some stand tunes to hype up the crowd. (Photo: Libby Nunez)

On most days in band we will usually have our band class period in the day time, and band practice in the afternoon from 4-6 PM. This is practicing for a game on Friday usually, in which we perform at the half time show. Our weeks aren’t too eventful, and our shows look pretty good, and quite a few people are surprised with how little practice we received compared to other bands who maximize their practice time. According to the TAPPS marching band rules, we are only allowed eight hours of out of school practice time a week. We only use six of those eight hours. We do put in all our effort in those 6 hours though. Last year our marching band won First Division Superior Ranking at the competition. 

A lot of people think that marching band is a great experience. “It’s a great experience, for all ages,” said Drum Captain Marc Cabrera. Marc Cabrera has been in the band for four years and has had many great experiences.

“Very cool, 10/10 would do again,” said Band President Gia Cabacungan. Another thing I love about band, as shown by the last quote, is that we all have a sense of humor, and love to laugh at many things. 

We all have many moments when everyone is joking around, and we aren’t taking anything seriously, and we have moments that we work our hardest. It’s a lot more fun than just working all day. In fact every other year we have a trip, we are going to Disney this year.

I would describe the St. Pius X Panther Band, as a community that cares for each other, and that helps everyone out. We really just want to help everyone fulfil the best of their potential. We thrive due to our great teachers and leadership, and not only do we work really hard, but we laugh a lot and have fun. The band is really like a family. A few of the main themes in Band are positivity and leadership. It is a great place to make friends, and meet likeminded people who love to play music. It is all inclusive and doesn’t matter if you even know how to play music or not. It’s overall a great experience and despite how small it is, it plays really well.