Winning time for Crisfield High School band: a student's perspective

Crisfield High School senior Angel Tyler wrote the following after the band competition at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and it was first published in the school’s in-house newsletter “The Crabber Insider” and also submitted to the Crisfield-Somerset County Times for publication.

*  *  *

On May 7, The Pride Of Somerset’s Marching Band took a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia to compete in an event called “Music in the Parks.” The event includes multiple schools, showcasing their fine arts performances that are worked on extremely hard. That Saturday we went, we competed, and we won. We won 1st place in the high school parade category, and we also won best parade band overall!

This is how it went, from a band kid’s perspective.

 Bragging aside, the entire trip was definitely an experience to remember. Trips like this in general are really important to me. It strengthens old bonds, and really makes the fact that band is indeed a family, clear to everyone. People I didn’t even think of speaking to before, are now some of my best friends.

I knew coming into this competition that we may not win. Did I care about that? No. Did anyone else care about that? No. What was important is that we were going into this all together, and if we did fail, at least we knew that we tried our very best.

Going out with two wins, winning with my band family, bathing in the success with all the people I worked so hard to achieve my dreams with, really earned a spot in the deepest part of my heart.

I just want to take the time to thank everyone involved with making this experience happen. Mrs. Heather McHenry, for encouraging us to exceed our very best, the band boosters for making this trip possible in the first place, and of course, my band family. Without them, I would not have the passion for music that I do today.