CONCORD (KRON) — The Clayton Valley Charter High School Band has been putting in hours of practice to compete in Fleet Week’s annual high school band competition.
Eight Bay Area schools have been chosen to compete for $28,000 in prize money.
The Clayton Valley band comes to the challenge with experience.
“They got third place two years ago and fourth place last year, so we’re hoping to do equal or better this year,” band director Lydia Lim said.
Lim feels honored to take over the direction of this year’s band.
“I’m very lucky we’ve got kids with a lot of natural talent and kids with a lot of great work ethic and self-discipline, and that combined really gives me some great kids to work with,” Lim said.
“We’ve made such exponential growth that I honestly am really excited to see where we can take it this season,” trumpet player Connor Overfield said.
Also performing at the competition will be the first Marine Division Band, and selected members of the teams will get to play with those Marines at the show’s finale.
One band member had the opportunity last year.
“I got put next to a Marine and he was a phenomenal trumpet player,” Overfield said.
Clayton Valley feels they are ready for the competition.
“I’m very competitive, so I’m hoping to place, but I know our competition is very talented and very good so we’ll see,” Lim said. “We’re just there to perform well and have a lot of fun.”
The competition begins Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the band shell in Golden Gate Park.