Prepare for a very unique and special rendition of your favorite numbers from the “Pride of the Pacific Marching Alliance,” a joint ensemble of over 40 musicians from Saipan Southern High School, Guam High School, Simon Sanchez High School, George Washington High School, Guam Territorial Band, the Saipan Pacific Winds Concert Band, and alumni from all of these bands.
SSHS Manta Ray Band conductor William DeWitt said the “Pride of the Pacific Marching Alliance” is the only home-grown marching band in the Marianas.
Directing the ensemble with DeWitt for the weekend performances will be Jayke Mafnas of the Guam Territorial Band, Maximo Ronquillo Jr. of George Washington High School, and Atsuko Eck of the Saipan Pacific Winds.
“These outstanding musicians will perform John Phillip Sousa’s invigorating ‘Bullets and Bayonets’ March in the
Liberation Day parade this Sunday,” DeWitt said.
He said the musicians are preparing and rehearsing at SSHS’s band room in an intensive educational “band camp”
setting that involves more than eight hours per day of musical and marching drills.
Tomorrow, at 2 p.m., DeWitt said the group will perform a special mini-concert at the DFS Galleria in Garapan.
“The musicians will perform several additional bonus selections that will not be heard during the parade on Sunday,” DeWitt said.
The musicians, he added, would like to thank Dr. Craig Garrison, principal of SSHS, for his support of this event.
“Craig’s support of the arts has been a key to the success of the Manta Band and the Pacific Winds,” DeWitt said.
The group is also thankful to Wayne Pangelinan and Ladera school for hosting the guests from Guam for the duration of this week, Ben Babauta and the staff of DFS Galleria for providing a venue for the mini-concert
tomorrow and to the Public School System for making music and the arts a priority.
“We are inviting everyone to come and enjoy some exceptional summer pops music, free of admission tomorrow and on Sunday,” DeWitt said.
