Encinal High School (EHS) hosted their annual “Extravaganza of Bands” on Saturday, May 21. However, due to increasing COVID numbers, only Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) bands competed this year.

Schools in attendance included: EHS, Alameda High School (AHS), Lincoln Middle School, and Wood Middle School. The schools participated in multiple performances such as marching, orchestra, and concert band.

“The marching band part was fun,” said EHS sophomore Sofia Layzer. “We got to watch Lincoln Middle School and Alameda High march before we marched, which was cool. I think it’s pretty amazing that we pulled it off with very little preparation.”

Alameda High brought back its marching band in 2019 after a 30-year hiatus.

“It’s fairly new,” said Mitchell White, the AHS music director, regarding the Hornet marching band.

Encinal students and parent volunteers worked during the competition, fulfilling multiple jobs including providing chairs and music stands to the performing bands.

For seniors, it was one of their last times performing with their classmates.

“That day, seeing everyone getting into their uniforms made me more happy than nervous,” added Layzer. “When done marching, I felt like that was the best time we’ve ever marched.”

The band review lasted from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The show ended with a final performance by the Encinal Jazz band.

Though no formal awards were given, judges workshopped with the orchestra and concert bands. Adjudicators included Clark Brown (Harker School), Genevieve Kromm, Grijda Spiri (UC Santa Cruz), and Mitchell Wagner (Lowell High School).