A week of 70 degree weather on the Northern California peninsula that parallels the west side of San Francisco Bay, preceded the Vanguard's third 'winter' camp on February 19-21 at Woodside High School, just west of Redwood City, CA.Although rain for the San Francisco Bay area was predicted for the weekend, everyone knows that the weather can be wet on one side of the bay, while relatively dry and sunny on another. This was the case for the Vanguard. No one could remember if the corps had ever held a camp at this location, but thanks to the work of the current band director (and father of an SCV pit member), the organization has another fantastic new venue to consider for future rehearsals.
Woodside High School is located on CA Route 84 and is at the point where it's a short distance east of Route 280 and at the beginning of the ascent into the Santa Cruz range, about 15 miles east of La Honda, CA, well-known as one of the birthplaces of the Psychedelic era, which also served as the base of operations for The Merry Pranksters. There were no sightings of any magic bus, however, just the SCV buses and a West Valley Charter. From the school's football field, the corps had a good view east toward the bay and an ascending view to the west of the Santa Cruz mountains, as well as some of the various horse ranches that the town of Woodside is known.
The objectives for the weekend were to set the spots in the battery; audition some of the last brass positions, and ensemble the first three productions of the 2010 BARTÓK program. Besides the percussion and the brass rehearsals, the school was also able to accommodate the Friday evening and Saturday Vanguard winter guard rehearsal in one of the gymnasiums.
Uniform fittings were also a priority this weekend, as nearly all of the new member of the corps fitted for a Santa Clara red and green uniform for the very first time. As one can imagine, some dreams have started to become a reality within the membership.
SCV design team members were found everywhere on campus throughout the weekend as Jon Vanderkolff (program coordinator and winter guard designer), Peter Weber (drill designer), Brian Mason (percussion composer/arranger) and Jeff Lee (electronics composer/arranger) were seen huddling in the gym during a portion of the winter guard rehearsal. Brass composer/arranger Key Poulan joined the team on Sunday during the ensemble rehearsal. Color Guard designers Carol Abohatab, Jim Moore and Greg Lagola were also on-hand for the shared camp weekend.
Brass Caption Manager Andre' Feagin led his brass staff through the paces on this weekend as music was either refined - having been taught at the January camp - or presented for the first time. There were recordings to do on Sunday morning!
Percussion Caption Manager Matt Ramey, Percussion Stylist Murray Gusseck and Front Ensemble Manager Mark Eichenberger led the battery and pit through the weekend as technique was stressed and more music taught, in anticipation of the Sunday music ensemble rehearsal.
Chris Alexander (Visual Caption Manager) and Assistant Visual Caption Manager Levi Chavis led the corps members and their staff to multiple fields on Saturday as the corps worked around scheduled outdoor athletic practices and contests.
Late Saturday afternoon, uniforming stopped as he assembled corps took the main gym for the 90-minute fitness session with the corps' Physical Trainer Randy Bichler.
Sunday morning's ensemble was a great success, ending with lots of smiles, as well as some members scrambling to catch the bus to the San Jose airport or the SCV shuttle to SFO. The next corps camp is scheduled for March 26-28 in the Santa Clara/San Jose area and will conclude on Sunday evening when the brass play for the assembled crowd at the corps' annual Birthday Dinner at the SCV Hall.
