DOWNEY - In an unprecedented accomplishment last Nov. 2, the Warren High School Band and Color Guard, led by director David Niemeyer, took all first-place sweepstakes honors in all five categories in its most recent field competition, its fifth for the year, against seven other high schools - Anaheim, Mira Costa. Schurr, Temple City, Baldwin Park, Kennedy and Walnut.The band and color guard usually performs at the school's football games, parades, concerts, and other competitions. The five categories which Warren's 164-member band and color guard swept were color guard, percussion, visual effect, music effect, and best over-all band. The program, which is coordinated by Mercy White, is part of the visual and performing arts department at Warren but its real strength derives from contributions made by scores of volunteers, from trailer drivers to bus chaperones to parent volunteers. Host high school was Sierra Vista in Baldwin Park. This Saturday the competing high schools will again vie for honors in their sixth field competition for the 2013 season. This time they will converge at Ramona High School in Riverside. According to Jerry Weiss, one of the pit volunteers and whose freshman daughter is a member of the color guard, one reason for the band and color guard's success is frequent practice. His wife, Cynthia, is also involved in the program, as one of the brass and snack volunteers.

********** Published: Nov. 14, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 31