The Burton Middle School Bulldog Marching Band continued its tradition of excellence, earning the Sweepstakes award at the Big Fresno Band Review during the Big Fresno Fair on Wednesday.
The Sequoia Middle School Hawks Marching Band also had an outstanding showing in Fresno, placing second overall in the band division.
The prestigious award for Burton recognizes the highest overall-scoring band, with Burton finishing as the top-performing group in music, marching and showmanship. It’s the fifth straight year the Burton Bulldog Band has earned Sweepstakes at the Big Fresno Band Review, an achievement that highlights the students’ dedication, discipline and commitment to excellence, said Burton band director Jack Amaral.
The Bulldogs’ success extended beyond the overall band competition, with several Burton ensembles and performers earning awards. The BMS Drum Line, Front Identification Unit and Majorettes all placed first. Drum Major Joana Iniguez and the BMS Flag Team earned second.
The Burton Bulldog Band was also featured on ABC30 News Wednesday night, bringing recognition to the students, Burton Middle School and the Porterville community.
Amaral praised the students for their commitment and recognized the families and staff members who help make the program successful.
“I am very proud of the hard work the students have put in this year. Thank you to all the parents that make sure their students always arrive on time. This would not be possible without the amazing staff we have.”
Amaral specifically recognized Carlos Rojas, the band’s drum instructor, along with auxiliary instructors Laura Velarde and Hugo Baez, for their contributions to the program’s continued success.
The Bulldogs’ fifth straight Sweepstakes victory reflects the consistent effort required to compete at a high level year after year, Amaral said. From musicianship and precise marching to performance quality and showmanship, the students’ combined efforts helped secure the top overall honor once again.
With little time to celebrate, the Burton Bulldog Band is already preparing for its next challenge. This weekend, the band will travel to Santa Cruz to compete in the Santa Cruz Beach Invitational, one of California’s major marching band competitions.
Following another successful performance in Fresno, the Bulldogs will look to carry their momentum into the next competition as they continue representing Burton Middle School and the Porterville community with pride, Amaral said.
SEQUOIA
Along with its second place showing, Sequoia placed third in the Tall Flag caption.
“The Fresno Fair Big Band Review is one of the most challenging competitions of the season, as the bands are not separated into divisions based on band size,” Sequoia band director Richard Madrigal said. “Instead, Sequoia competed directly against every middle school band in attendance, making a 2nd Place finish an impressive accomplishment in one of the most competitive fields the Hawks have faced this season.
“This was a very strong performance from our students. Fresno Fair is always a difficult competition because there are no divisions, so every band competes directly against the others regardless of size or program. Finishing second in that environment is something our students should be very proud of. They continue to show that they belong among the strongest middle school programs in the Central Valley.”
Madrigal said he and his band also offered its congratulations to Amaral and the Burton Band for earning the Sweepstakes award. “We always look forward to competing alongside Burton and sharing the street with another outstanding Porterville band,” he said.
“Porterville is fortunate to have several highly successful band programs, and in recent years, the city has seen no shortage of Sweepstakes and first-place trophies make their way back home. From Sequoia to Burton and the other outstanding programs throughout the community, Porterville continues to make its mark on band competitions throughout the Central Valley.”
For Sequoia, Fresno was another strong finish to a season that has included several first place and Sweepstakes awards. Sequoia will continue its competitive season will at the Fowler Jr. High Band Review before concluding the competition season at the Central California Band Review in Merced.