The Fillmore High School Band and Colorguard, aka the Flashes Regiment, took first place in the 2A Green division in all three categories (band, colorguard and percussion) at the Simi Valley High School Field Competition on Sat. Oct. 24. It was a hot and windy day with twenty three bands participating in the competition. Field show competitive divisions are determined by the number of musicians in each group.

Our Fillmore students start learning their field show in the summer before the school year begins. Weeks are spent learning the complex field moves that accompany the music. Every effort is made to perfect the details and create a theme-based show. This year the show is entitled “Wild” and features music and colorguard costuming to match. Some spectators are not familiar with theme-based field shows since the most commonly seen shows are college football bands that tend to focus on school themes. Field show competitions feature shows that are based on creative musical and visual details. Students are judged not only on their precision and execution of details but also on their ability to convey the theme of their show to the audience. The judging panel consists of three music judges, two visual, one percussion and one colorguard. Each judge provides a critique of the group’s show which can last between seven and eleven minutes. The judges provide written and recorded detailed comments for each band to analyze and further improve their show. The Flashes Regiment will participate at the Oxnard High School Field Tournament on Nov. 7 and the Granada Hills Charter High School Field Competition on Nov. 12.