Lexington Junior High School drum line competed in the American Drum Line Association championships along with 120 adult, high school and junior high drum lines on April 18. Lexington was awarded 2nd place in the junior division out of drum lines from the West Coast, San Diego to Bakersfield and Las Vegas.
Other awards this season have included 1st place at the Westminster High School show, and 2nd place at the Marina High School contest. Lexington’s drum line is the only junior high school line in the Anaheim Union High School District, and was the only Orange County representative in their division.
“I’m really proud of these kids,” said Band Director Steve Graves. “Their hard work and dedication towards teamwork really paid of this season, and it includes life skills that they’ll take with them forever.”
“Because our students are so busy and involved in many activities outside of school, we can only practice for about 30 percent of the time many of our competitors do,” said Graves. “We don’t do Saturday rehearsals, or work on days off school, just 2 hours every Friday, about 24 hours total – so it forces our kids to be efficient and work smart.”
Drum line members include first and second year percussion students, even those who just started learning music this year. For the first time this year, the ensemble included six members of the Lexington’s dance program to add to the show’s visual performance. Dance students learned choreography created by their dance teacher Marianne Stewart, rehearsing on Fridays with the drum line.
“This year was a particular challenge, because of the construction issue on campus and the academic retention program that was added just after Spring break,” said Graves. “We’ve basically been homeless, without an appropriate indoor rehearsal facility, since the students who didn’t finish homework were given the only indoor facility on campus, the multi purpose room, to do homework after school.” Even with this handicap, the group earned the highest score in their visual performance at championships.
“We not only have a great group of students, but our parent and sponsor support has been outstanding,” said Graves. Since the drum line receives no funding from the school or district, the kids and parents raise 100 percent of the costs to participate, which is usually several thousand dollars. “Drum line parents showed up to every event to help move equipment, drive trucks, even bringing snacks. We owe a lot to our sponsors, Volcano Burger, The International House of Blues Foundation, Rita Gamil/ RE Max Realtor, and the Owaki and Lopez families,” said Graves.
