Band to go to DMI contest this weekend

By Annie Wen Staff Writer This week the CHS band will be heading out to Duncanville for the annual Duncanville Marching Invitational. This contest is held every year and 20 area bands are chosen to compete based on their past record of success. The CHS band has had a great marching season so far, winning 7 awards at the Mesquite Marching Festival and earning a First Division at the UIL contest. The DMI contest is the second most important contest of the season, the most important being the Bands of America contest that will be taking place next weekend. The band will be competing against long-time rivals Marcus HS and LD Bell HS at both…

Local band, Seastroke, plays to a different beat

Corrina Taylor Staff Writer What makes a band famous is not flashy clothes or a “tough-guy” attitude; it is talent and will to succeed. A local Coppell band is known for its dedication to their instruments and themselves. As self-taught musicians, the members have spent their high school career practicing and working hard to establish their band. Together, 2011 Ranchview High School graduate Jeff McQuitty, senior Jett Raines, Cistercian students Stuart Leach and Matthew Lancaster make up Seastroke. Seastroke is an up and coming band introducing a new type of sound. The use of a violin in its songs adds a nice touch to the overall quality of the songs;  some may even say it…

Band to honor victims of 9/11

By Caroline Carter Staff Writer With the ten-year anniversary of 9/11 approaching this Sunday, Coppell High School’s and Jesuit’s band planned a special pre-game performance to honor those who lost their lives at tonight’s game. It is a very unique game for Coppell and Jesuit, the opposing team, as ten years ago; Coppell played Jesuit in an away game three days after the twin towers were hit.  Both bands have planned and rehearsed a performance that is set to begin about thirty minutes before the actual game begins. The two songs chosen to play are “Amazing Grace” and “The Star Spangled Banner”. Both bands will play and create a formation together. It is sure to…

Beat the Heat CHS

By Jordan Bickham Staff Writer The summer season ends with the start of school, but with temperatures soaring in the hundreds, summer seems endless, even when the vacation is over. As a freshman spending his last few weeks of summer marching under the sun, Matthew Thomas could not have anticipated how intense outdoor activities can be in Texas. “We practice four days a week, about three hours a day, and it is almost always outside,” Thomas said.  “I try to drink water outside of band.  You know, drink a cup of water instead of a can of coke, keeping your body cool and hydrated all the time.” But sometimes, water is just not enough. “During…

Section leaders for band choosen

Laura Kattilakoski Staff Writer After devoting hours of time and effort into learning their band music and perfecting their playing skills, the section leaders for the award-winning CHS band have been choosen. Section Leaders: Saxaphones: Zach Trahan Flutes: Neha Dubey French Horns: Haley Greenia  Clarinets: Lauren Walter Bass Clarinets: Landon Grisset Percussion captains: Leeza Ngyuen/ Jamie Reed Trombones: Hilton Hardie Trumpets: Daniel Corkill/ Adrian Galvan Euphoniumms: Drew Wibisono Tubas: Parker Mason The full list of section leaders and squad leaders can be found in front of the band hall.

Band section leaders to try out this week

Laura Kattilakoski Staff Writer It is that time of year again that the award-winning CHS band begins the rigorous tryout process for next year’s marching band section leades. While marching band is a time-consuming activity, many students feel the daily tryouts and practices are worth the position as their section leader. The tryouts are taking place this week in the parking lot behind the football stadium. After school, the echo of their shouts can  be heard throughout the campus.

The Paradigm rocks CHS

Thomas Hair Staff Writer In its history, Coppell High School has witnessed the birth of many bands over the years, formed by creative students with common musical passions. Some of these have been successful, Amber Open Skies comes to mind, while many have not. The latest band to emerge from the halls of CHS is funk rock group The Paradigm. The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Ben Marshall, vocalist Kenzie Hitz, lead guitarist Jackson Webster, bass guitarist Stephen Airfin and drummer Blake Varnell. Most of The Paradigm‘s members are also in the Coppell High School Band, and cites Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against The Machine, among others, as influences. The Paradigm was formed in early…

Coppell Wind Ensemble excels at UIL

Thomas Hair Staff Writer Every Coppell High School Band for over 20 years has received Division I ratings at the UIL  Concert and Sight Reading Contest, and the CHS Wind Ensemble continued that streak today, April 12. Students in the Wind Ensemble departed CHS for Duncanville High School after A Lunch for UIL, which is usually considered the most important contest for concert band. At UIL, the Wind Ensemble  performed their concert selections for a panel of three judges before moving on to the sight reading portion of the contest, where their ability to play a new song at first glance was tested. In the concert portion of the contest, the Wind Ensemble performed Third Suite by Jager, Symphonic Prelude by Camphouse,…

CHS Band to travel to Chicago over spring break

Thomas Hair Staff Writer In previous years, the CHS Band has ventured to exciting places such as New York and even Ireland. This spring break the Band will be visiting Chicago from Sat. March 12 to Wed. March 16. While in the Windy City, the band will perform at the majestic Chicago Symphony Hall. The prestigious Symphony Hall is well known around the world as one of the finest venues of its kind, so this is sure to be an amazing experience for the band. For the remaining days of the trip, band students will have the opportunity to go sightseeing around Chicago, visiting sites such as the Museum of Science and Industry and Willis…

Solo contest proves successful for band members

Rebecca Neumann Entertainment Editor After hours of practice, band members put it all on the line on Saturday when they competed in the annual Solo and Ensemble Contest at CHS. More than 200 CHS band members competed and 151 students advanced to the state level and will compete again in May when they go to Austin. The stressful process began months ago when the band students, along with their private lesson instructors, picked a classical solo piece to learn and memorize. Since then, they practiced and practiced, rehearsing with their teachers and piano accompanists. Memorizing does not come easily to everyone and that added to their workload. Not only did the students have to learn…