Schools

Strike up the Bands: District Showcases School Marching Units, Color Guards

Hundreds applaud halftime shows performed at Grossmont High School in annual extravaganza.

Bundled against the chill, several hundred friends and family members of musicians and color guard units cheered nine marching bands Tuesday night at Grossmont High School—the annual district showcase of halftime routines. Santana and El Cajon Valley high schools—performing as a combined unit—opened the nearly 3-hour show with music from Cold Play (appropriately). They were followed by Monte Vista, Granite Hills and El Capitan. Grossmont, West Hills, Steele Canyon, Valhalla and Helix also did their competition routines on a night when the only judging was of the best booster club snacks. As a finale, schools Superintendent Ralf Swenson ascended a platform to direct the combined bands in Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA in a salute to Veterans Day.

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