By Sienna Hennessy
Band director Jesus Chuy Martinez led a memorial performance in front of the Administration building’s flag for the first-responders and civilians who passed during 9/11.
The college band performed “Taps,” a traditional military song, and “Amazing Grace.”
Martinez said that when colleges went virtual during lockdown, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade asked band directors across the country to perform for 9/11 from home and then they stitched the performances together digitally to share.
He said this year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade asked all band directors that are marching for them in New York this November to direct a performance in honor of 9/11 at their campuses.
He said 289 band directors marched for the Rose Parade this year, 450 band directors will be marching for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year.
Martinez said the same tunes they played in front of the campus’ flag will be played by band directors marching for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The band began playing when Deputy Sheriff Alberto Romero arrived to represent first-responders after Martinez’s extended an invitation. Students by the library and administration building were also part of the audience for the performance.
The band collaborated with the cheerleaders for the memorial performance.
The cheerleaders said they often perform with the college band.
The cheerleaders lightly rustled pom poms as one them respectfully held the cheer megaphone at their chest.
Bandmembers played on flute, clarinet, tenner saxophone, alto saxophone, french horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, snare drum and base drum.
Kevin Garza, head drum major, said this is the band’s second performance after the football game Saturday and that he hopes the band can play for a lot more events this year.
Garza said he hopes the college band can do more parades as well.
He said the band feels like one big family and that he hopes more people join.