Students from the Saugus High School Band and Color Guard recently traveled to San Francisco for their 2019 Tour.

The group consisted of approximately 100 students, staff and chaperones. They departed from Saugus on Thursday morning, March 21, and made their first stop at California State Bakersfield, where they participated in a music clinic/masterclass with Dr. Leo Sakomoto, director of Instrumental Studies at Cal State Bakersfield. After the clinic and a brief tour of the campus, they continued on to San Francisco for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe located on Pier 39.

On Friday, the students had a full schedule which started at the beautiful campus of Stanford University for another music clinic with Dr. Russ Gavin, the Dr. Arthur P. Barnes director of Bands at Stanford. The Color Guard students also participated in a dance clinic with Jazz Legaspi, from the “System Blue” education organization and former member of the Blue Devils Guard.

After leaving the University, the coach buses took the students on a guided tour of the city which included a stop at the Golden Gate Bridge. Next on the agenda was taking the ferry over to Alcatraz Island to take a walking tour of the historical prison. In the evening the students were able to take in the sights and sounds of Fisherman’s Wharf and then went to dinner in the heart of Chinatown at Hunan Homes, a favorite restaurant among local residents since opening in 1983.

On the last day of the tour, Saturday, the group headed to California’s Great America Theme Park in Santa Clara. They performed in the park and then spent the rest of the day riding roller coasters and exploring the theme park that has existed since 1976.

The Saugus Band is under the direction of Band Director, Corey Whitt and Percussion Teacher, Bob Grigas. The Saugus Band Boosters is a 501(c)3 non profit corporation that supports the Band and Guard program by holding fundraisers throughout the year to raise much needed funds for competitions, festivals, uniforms, instruments and equipment. Donations are tax deductible.