Director pleased with MCHS band

Director pleased with MCHS band

Oct. 24, 2000

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

DELTA — The judges couldn’t say enough about how well Montezuma-Cortez High School had played Thursday at the 31st annual Western Slope Regional Bands competition at Delta High School Football Field.

But while the judges liked the Panthers and awarded them 86.6 points, one of the highest point totals in years, they found some fault with Mancos High School’s performance.

Nevertheless, both MCHS and Mancos are going to State. The Blue Jays went to Pueblo yesterday, while the Panthers will travel to Denver Oct. 28.

The Panther marching band finished first in the field-show category, winning the second title in a row for band director Rodney Ritthaler.

The Panthers’ performance was so good that their nearest competition was Grand Junction High, which recently dropped from Class 5A competition into 4A, with 70 points. In high-school-band circles, it was no competition.

Cortez’s musicianship and marching were nearly flawless. But what really made the Panthers’ sound special was the work by the percussionists. One judge was overheard saying, "I have not heard a high-school band pit sound so good."

Ritthaler was very pleased after watching the show.

"It was a real good performance today," Ritthaler said. "There are still some things we have got to work on to improve for State. We need to sustain some pitches and work on crescendos and long tones.

"I was really pleased with the percussion. I thought they did an outstanding job. Hard work does pay off. They marched well and they played well. I think our presentation was improved from Grand Junction (MCHS took first in field show on Oct. 14). You never can predict what will happen at State but if they continue to work as hard as they have, they should do well."

The Panthers performed a piece called "StormWorks,"

The pieces were musically arranged for high school band play by Scott Hickey. Jack Chambers wrote the drill. Mike Sherpa and Ritthaler collaborated on the percussion. Assistant band director Eric Ashton and color-guard coach Jessica Linde also put the final show together.

Daniel Puls and Brittany Johnson are the drum majors. First soloist is Sam Cropp on the melophone. Sean Lavey is a soloist on the trumpet.

Among the Class 4A schools, Cortez won best percussion and top auxiliary (color guard). In the parade competition, Cortez also took first place.

In the junior-high/middle-school parade competition, Cortez Middle School grabbed a superior. Centennial Junior High of Montrose also won superior and inspection. Delta Middle School won an inspection.

The Panthers, who are one of only three teams to have competed in State bandmasters finals since its inception in 1981, will compete at State Oct. 28 in Denver. Preliminaries will be at Englewood High School Stadium with finals at Mile High Stadium.

As for the Blue Jay Marching Band, they appeared to please the crowd but failed to place. However, they did score high enough to earn a trip to the Class A-AA State bandmasters final in Pueblo.

"We need to stay focused and work on our musical presentation for State," Mancos first-year director Joey Wilson said. Wilson took over when longtime director Janey Silver retired at the end of last school year. Silver’s band finished second at both Regionals and State last year.

The Blue Jays Marching Band worked hard on its program featuring classic rock’n’roll. Sven McNeil is the solo drum major. Tanya Young headed up the color guard for this year’s show.

When the band played "Play That Funky Music," the crowd clapped and cheered.

"The crowd usually always likes our show, but will the judges like it?" Wilson said immediately after the band performed.