The crowd was silent. Everyone stared at the center field, awaiting the second place winner. The overwhelming exhaustion of a day full of nervous energy refused to set in. Instead, hope kept eyes open for what was to come, knowing that history could unfold. The words barely left the announcer’s mouth before a wave of shock spread across the entire Woodbridge High marching band. They had not won second place. They won first.
On Nov. 23, Woodbridge High’s marching band won first place at the California State Band Championship (CSBC) Finals in Huntington Beach. This was the first time in Woodbridge High’s history that the Entertainment Corps has ever won first place at the state level. In 2021, they came tantalizingly close to gold, falling short by only a fraction of a point.
By putting in hours of leadership to guide the band, instructing the team when the band directors were occupied and motivating members to perform their best, four individuals were instrumental in laying the foundation for even more successful marching band seasons for years to come. The drum majors worked tirelessly behind the scenes of the production by coordinating at rehearsals, mediating between the sections and creating a culture that was focused and disciplined. Their leadership was not solely about conducting, but also through shaping the band’s collective mindset that prepared them for high pressure moments throughout the season.
Wearing the white uniforms, a symbol of their authority and professionalism, seniors Declan Hu, Amin Nahas, Charlotte Pham and Josh Koines, served as the 2024-25 drum majors, holding the highest positions in the band community. As liaisons between the students and the band directors, they were the architects behind this extraordinary band season.
“It’s a big responsibility because how I act is essentially an extension of how the band acts,” Hu, the main conductor of all the field shows, said.
Attitude is one of the main focuses the drum majors chose to emphasize this year.
“In the past few years, we’ve had a little bit of fluctuating energy and motivation levels coming out of [the COVID-19 pandemic],” Pham, the conductor of the first and second field movements, said. “This year, we really pushed our band to be focused and to have the kind of work ethic that got us together.”
From the beginning of the season, the marching band walked into competitions headstrong. One huge win occurred at Capistrano Valley High School at the end of October when the marching band scored higher than expected.
“We were the highest scorers in all the categories,” Koines, a soloist and both football and pep rally conductor, said. “[The score was] 85.9, which is actually on the higher end for our first competition. Usually, we’re in the low eighties.”
Woodbridge High’s marching band went on to break 90 points on Nov. 9 at the San Clemente Field Tournament, setting a high standard for the rest of the season. Looking back, the drum majors also set high standards for themselves in order to achieve such a standing. Their journey was marked by relentless dedication and unyielding determination, an inspiration for those who hope to follow in their footsteps.
As a freshman, Nahas looked up to his drum majors, especially after experiencing a second place win at the state championships in 2021.
“I think that moment was [an] understanding that band is very significant and you can do such great things and you can go so far…It just pushed me to want to be a leader,” Nahas said.
As a junior, Nahas went on to perform as section leader of the alto saxophones. Becoming a drum major is a competitive process. The position is held to the highest regard and one that many band members dream of holding one day. There is an audition application every year, an interview, speech and rehearsal that applicants must lead. Out of around 10 strong applicants, only four are chosen.
Like Nahas was, Pham, Hu and Koines were all section leaders for their respective instruments. However, they were chosen to be drum majors for reasons beyond a title. When asked about his strengths, Koines mentioned that his musical talent is not the only reason he was selected to lead.
“I’m good at talking [and] interacting with people,” Koines said. “I played the cards well, and I got here.”
Communication is a very important skill for drum majors as they are in charge of relaying information to the section leaders and keeping the band focused on their goals. Additionally, all four drum majors have a diverse range of interests, gaining responsibilities and experiences that have shaped them into versatile and accomplished leaders.
Koines, who is known for being a talented trombonist, plays a lot of other instruments as well. Most recently, he has taken up the bassoon. Both Hu and Pham also play cello.
“I wasn’t always a band kid,” Hu said. “I would consider myself more of an orchestra kid because my primary instrument is actually cello.”
The unique experiences of the drum majors embody the diversity of the marching band, where new perspectives from this year’s leadership provided a sense of belonging for all members of the band.
“There are a lot of kids that go into band that are either [in] orchestra or have no music experience prior,” Hu said. “That’s another reason why I wanted to be a leader. I wanted to show those people that it’s okay [not to know] anything coming into this. I didn’t either.”
Being both a soccer player and a member of the marching band, Nahas values time commitment and diversity as essential to the band. Rather than tangible achievements, he recalls seeing the marching band play together as one of his favorite feats this year.
“It’s very cool to watch how people that you wouldn’t expect kind of come together [to become] the band as a whole,” Nahas said. “The greatest accomplishment is just getting this diverse group of people to work together to create something very cool [and] very successful.”
Woodbridge High continues to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the entire Entertainment Corps this year, including the dance team and color guard. Although the season has come to an end, the drum majors have created a lasting legacy and now look to pass the baton to the next leaders of the Woodbridge High marching band.
