Press Release

December 2, 1998

For Immediate Release

CITYWIDE MARCHING BAND ARRIVES HOME WITH SWEEPSTAKES TROPY FROM 67TH ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE AND BAND FESTIVAL

The Denver Public Schools' Citywide Marching Band brought home four first-place prizes, including the top overall award, from the 67th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade and Band Festival, held in the Los Angeles area last weekend.

"Anytime you win it all, well, it means all your hard work has paid off," said Mary Perry, administrative staff manager for the band.

The 142-member band includes musicians from 11 Denver high schools and has performed well in national competitions for years.

In last weekend's competition, the band won first place for best drum major, first place for best music, and first place for best percussion. The band also won the sweepstakes award for best overall band.

The drum majors are head drum major Melissa Vannoy and assistants Summer Roper and Alma Geddy-Romero. Dave Hammond, who teaches at the Denver School of the Arts, is the band director. The assistant director is West High School teacher Frank Fyock.

Six other bands from around the country competed at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, California, including Chatfield High School in Jefferson County.

"Over the last 13 years, this band has continued to reel in awards in a truly remarkable way," said Steve Gonzales, supervisor of arts and physical education for Denver Public Schools. Gonzales noted that the marching band's district-wide membership limits practice to one time per week during the school year.

During the trip to California, taken by bus, the band also recorded at Disneyland.

Watch for Denver's Citywide Marching Band in the Parade of Lights in downtown Denver, December 4th and 5th.