San José State's School of Music and Dance held a Spartan Marching Band Concert at CEFCU Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Concert performers included the Spartan Color Guard, Marching Band and Spartan Spectrum Dance Team.
The Spartan Marching Band is led by Director of Athletic Bands, Craig McKenzie, according to SJSU’s website.
McKenzie said the Spartan Color Guard and Dance Team provided a unique visual style during Saturday's concert.
He said the marching band performs at many events including footballs, but were able to close the season by performing at home for themselves.
“Today’s concert was significant because we got the chance to do that for an audience that came just to hear us,” said McKenzie.
He said Saturday’s performance went better than he expected. He said the band was worried about the weather because it looked like it was going to rain earlier in the day, but the weather cleared up just in time.
McKenzie said the parents, family, friends and students who came to watch on Saturday really enjoyed the performance, and was really glad to see it was a big crowd.
“Throughout the event, I felt a lot of appreciation and gratitude for the hard work the students put in all season long,” he said. “I also felt a sense of relief and closure that we’re kind of wrapping things up and onto the next set of projects that we’re going to be doing.”
McKenzie said his favorite song the band performs is “Skin I’m In.” He said it's a lot of fun to perform and one of his favorites.
He said the band’s favorite piece to play is “Skin I’m In” by Sly and the Family Stone.
“It gets the band really hyped, everyone cheers along and sings along,” McKenzie said.
The members of the Spartan Marching Band are students from every field of study on campus, ranging from first year undergraduate through graduate students, according to SJSU’s website.
Animation & illustration sophomore Madeline Swilley, who plays alto saxophone for the Spartan Marching Band, said the concert was a chance for the band to show off all the work they've been able to do throughout the semester.
Swilley said she has been performing in marching band for eight years and that it has been a large part of her time at school.
“It's a good way to get to know other people, and it's good exercise,” Swilley said.
Swilley said her favorite song to perform was also “Skin I’m In.” She said everyone else would agree “Skin I’m In” is their favorite too because it's a fun song to dance along to.
Forensic science senior Karl Bautista, a section leader and drum captain for the Spartan Marching Band, said he started to get teary eyed as the band played the national anthem.
Bautista said it's been a surreal experience to see the band grow and to be a part of that growth. “The concert is our end of season performance where we showcase everything we've done, all at once,” she said. “We play a different show at each football game and sometimes our friends and family can't make it, so today's concert was everyone's opportunity to come out.”
