4 Valley schools participate in Colony Marching Band Invitational

PALMER — For more than 15 years Colony High School has been the only marching band in the Mat-Su Borough School District, and one of the few in Alaska. Houston, Wasilla and Palmer high schools joined CHS for the annual Colony Marching Band Invitational, marking a historic milestone in the ever-growing Mat-Su.

“It’s a huge feather I the cap of Valley schools,” CHS principal, Brendon McMahon said. “It speaks well for the music community out here in the Valley.”

CHS music instructor Jamin Burton has been waiting for this moment for more than 15 years, after creating the CHS marching band, “Thee Northern Sound.”

“I couldn’t be happier. We had a stadium full of people to watch music in our community,” Burton said.

He said that five bands would have showed up Wednesday night but Redington High School had to cancel.

“They were ready, they have a band ready to go. They just couldn’t make it this year. It’s on their calendar for next year,” he said.

Through countLess hours of practice, fundraising, outreach, phone calls, pep talks, music has been the fuel, fire and fun in Burton’s belly. Many of the kids have said they see him as a second father and that shouldn’t be surprising to readers since the word “family” was used by nearly everyone interviewed Sept. 26.

“We did great. It felt like a dream,” Kenneth Cunningham, a Palmer xylophone player, said.

With the avid support of the community, Burton took Thee Northern Sound across the country, from the Rose Bowl in California to the Macy’s Day Parade in New York, gaining national attention and recognition.

Burton of course, cherishes these memories but stressed that this collation of bands playing together, marching to different songs but all under the same tune was even harder to achieve and just as satisfying.

“This was 15 years,” Burton said. “It just feels like the Macy’s Day parade. It’s a huge deal for me. We started working on it the day we got back from Macy’s.”

HHS music instructor Samantha Youmans started the school’s marching band program last year, and played at the invitational in 2017.

“Houston did amazing. It’s a small band but that sound was big and beautiful,” PHS music instructor Barbara Carroll said.

Carroll said that she was impressed by all the hard work and sharp execution by all the bands that evening.

“This is the only time of year you get to do it,” Carroll said, “We all were excited to see what they came up with. This is kind of the debut for everyone.”

Students, staff and parent in their respective colors were seen cheering each other on.

“There’s no visitor’s side today” WHS assistant principal Jeff Nelles said.

“They all support each other. It’s difference than the athletic department where they may be rooting against each other,” McMahon said.

“We all know each other [Mat-Su music teachers,” WHS music instructor Jackie Johnson. “We all have more when we work together.”

“This is the best experience I’ve ever had,” WHS drummer, AJ Camacho said.

“I feel like homie is the word I want to use, but we are more like family,” WHS drummer Lauren Wadsworth laughed. “Even though we’re technically rivals, we’re all out there jamming together. It’s awesome.”

The invitational is one of many ways CHS and the other four bands are raising funds for the upcoming Normandy trip.

“All schools will be represented in one way or another,” Burton said.