Thundering Herd gallops to victory
November 6, 2014
The Diamond Bar High School music program and Color Guard played to the song of triumph once again at the Loara Band Review on Oct. 25. Accolades acquired included the highest honor of sweepstakes for the Diamond Bar High Thundering Herd, first place for Color Guard, and second place in the military baton division for sophomore Rebecca Kimn.
Diamond Bar competed with other marching bands and Color Guard teams within the middle school to high school range (also called MS to 6A). Other high schools that participated in the Review included Notre Dame, Chino, Glendora, Arcadia, and Riverside King.
The DB marching band was able to win sweepstakes, which is synonymous to the grand prize for the parade, while DB’s rival Riverside King placed first behind them.
“[It] was a monumental feat on our part because Riverside is known for dominating with their clean performances,” Kimn said via Facebook. On the other hand, DB’s Color Guard only made first place in their division while Riverside’s Color Guard won sweepstakes.
“Color guard is scored on things like showmanship (how the color guard looks and presents itself) and execution (how well we execute the routine to the music),” said senior Hedy Yu, who is the captain of Color Guard, in a Facebook message.
“Our goal is to be as well-prepared as we can be and to present our best at each competition. For Diamond Bar Color Guard as a whole, we want to get back up to World class during winter guard season,” Yu continued.
In the division for military baton spinning, Drum Major Rebecca Kimn achieved second place. Kimn explained that she had become interested in marching band when she attended her older brother’s parade in fifth grade. She began practicing once she entered middle school. Outside of the Thundering Herd, she has also received the titles “Class A Military Champion” and “Open Mace Champion” in the World Drum Major Association Championships.
“This year, we are going to overpower [Riverside Kings] with the control and excitement rendered by our playing and marching,” Kimn said.
And overpower they did at the Chino Invitational on Nov. 1, where the Thundering Herd and Color Guard both went home with Sweepstakes. With determination, Band and Color Guard are currently perfecting and fine-tuning their performance for the Arcadia Invitational on Nov. 15.
“The Loara Review Sweepstakes is basically a look into the future. For a few years, there’s been a pattern that’s been showing up; those who are the top dogs at Loara stay the top dogs throughout the rest of the parade season,” Yu said.
The Thundering Herd won sweepstakes after performing at the Loara Band Review.
