Bernalillo High School celebrates new marching band

BERNALILLO — This is Bernalillo High School’s first time having a marching band in quite a while, and the first time in the tenure of BHS Principal Alyssa Sanchez Padilla.

“Having a marching band is really important because there’s a lot of different groups in high school, right? You have your athletic groups, your academic groups, and band is a particular area for those students that kind of don’t fit into other groups,” Sanchez Padilla said.

The idea to have a marching band for the 2024-25 BHS school year came during the summer.

“This summer we were sitting around. We were looking at our band kids and some of the programs we had offered. I just kind of had a thought, ‘What if we do a marching band?’” Padilla said. “My team looked at me and said, ‘Let’s do this.’”

The role of band director fell to BHS music teacher Tristan Tucker, who took on the challenge at the last minute with the full support of the school.

“This year, we received a ton of support from the principal. We had these great classes where I could set up drum lines, and it all just lined up and worked out,” Tucker said. “I think it’s really exciting to see, post-COVID, the students’ excitement for music and getting out there and performing. It’s been nonstop fun.”

Tucker, who has been with the school for four years, was tasked with showing students the many benefits of marching band, which include taking their talents to the college level.

“It’s been pretty great. I won’t lie. It’s been pretty nice, the band going into something that’s a little bit bigger than it used to be because it used to be small,” senior Claire Esquibel jokingly said. “Walking while playing your instrument is the hardest ... the [Homecoming] parade was so cool because we have never done anything like that before.”

Students put in marching band class included students with a band background, who had expressed an interest in band, and also some students who did not request it.

“I was a little nervous. I had put some kids who had not requested to be in band ... I had no kids come to me [or the counselor] wanting to get out,” Sanchez Padilla said.

Marching band has given BHS students a safe outlet to be a part of a team and attend many events.

“It’s gotten me more involved in my senior year, and that’s part of what I wanted. I want to make the most memories and to have Claire [Esquibel], my friend here, with me participating, I’d say it’s been really great,” senior Desiree Valencia said.

You can catch the BHS marching band at any home football game and then at the upcoming Bernalillo Christmas Parade Dec. 7.

“It’s been fine and fun! If anyone wants to go ahead and take the opportunity, they can take it,” freshman Lucas Candelara said.