Meet the Band

“[The band], in one aspect, is a performance ensemble” said Band Director, Mark Trulson. From football games to parades and community performances in and out of Alhambra, Band supports athletics and does various service-oriented performances. According to Trulson, performing in the 2009 Rose Parade was their biggest accomplishment yet Over the years, Band also performed for the mayor of Los Angeles, members of Congress and Supreme Court justices.
“All music groups on campus are all inclusive,” said Trulson. Although there are auditions for positions that go beyond the curriculum, the band accepts any student who is willing to work. According to Trulson, Band seems to do a good job of including anyone because even those students who get the class by mistake stay enrolled in it.
Students enter Band either from elementary school, beginning band, other instrumental classes or purely by accident. Members of Band also recruit students on campus as well.
Aside from Trulson, Band has a body of student leaders, which includes an instructional staff, concert master, drum major and section leader; the remaining students support their leaders by meeting the standards of the band through hard work and play.
While participating in Band, students also learn skills such as responsibility and leadership. “Students here receive structured education for four years,” said Trulson. According to him, colleges are searching for hard-working students, who are often a part of AHS’ band.
“[They are] highly marketable individuals,” said Trulson.
By StaffWriter Jennifer Pierce