Marching bands battle on Musketeer Field
Moorpark scores in top three of division
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

TUBA TUNE- From left, Moorpark High School Band members Steven Kelley, senior; Andrew Schwartz, junior; and Andy Tymczyszyn, senior, march during the Battle of the Bands hosted by Moorpark High School on Saturday.

Marching bands representing 37 high schools from Southern California filled the Moorpark High School stadium with colorful performances at the 2007 Battle of the Bands on Saturday.

The 12th annual event hosted by the Moorpark Marching Musketeers and organized by the parent Booster Association featured 3,114 young musicians.

Each band had 15 minutes to come onto the field, set up, perform their half-time show and exit, said event coordinator Vicki Tymczyszyn.

This was the last opportunity to earn a spot in the top 10 in each division to compete in the finals at Long Beach City College on Dec. 1.

The Moorpark marching band, composed of 86 members, scored third in the 3A Division. "There are about 75 bands in our division, so being third place is a very good thing," said Daniel Cook, assistant band leader at the high school.

Moorpark students have a high work ethic and they are guided by a dedicated band director, said Cook.

When they perform together, the Color Guard and the marching band create a show that is attractive both visually and musically, said Cook, who graduated from Moorpark High in 2004 and is studying at Moorpark College and Cal State Northridge to become a teacher and a high school band director.

"The kids, the parents and the staff are committed to the program," said band leader Robert Hackett. "We have a good time doing what we're doing and there's good chemistry."

Students participate in the program because they enjoy the companionship and they love to play. Older and younger students work together toward a common goal, said Tymczyszn, whose son Andy, a senior at the high school, plays the tuba in concert band and the sousaphone in the marching band. Her daughter graduated from the program two years ago, she said.

The Battle of the Bands is one of several fundraisers organized each year to support the Moorpark High School band programs. About $120,000 is needed annually to support three jazz bands, three concert bands, the marching band, percussion and color guard.

Funds are used for coaching, instrument repairs, clinics and travel costs and to purchase uniforms.

The booster club will also be selling Christmas trees in the Staples parking lot on Los Angeles Avenue until Dec. 22 and it will host the Holiday Home Tour that was previously hosted by the Moorpark Women's Fortnightly Club and the the Boys & Girls Club on Sun., Dec. 9.

Last year, the high school received a $100,000 state grant for the band programs. That money was used to purchase new instruments for all Moorpark High bands because the old ones were falling apart, said Tymczyszn.

The Moorpark Battle of the Bands is held in a stadium near Thousand Oaks, said Marty Martone, band director for Thousand Oaks High School. Martone said he rearranged their band's schedule to compete at the Moorpark event.