In the Cougar Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, the Rancho Cucamonga High School Band hosted their Parent Preview show for the 2024-2025 school year. Gates opened at 6 p.m., and the performance began at 7 p.m.
“The purpose of Parent Preview is to show and demonstrate the student’s hard work that they’ve been putting in for the last couple months,” said band instructor Mr. James Ana. “It gives the families and friends of the students a great opportunity to go to the show.”
Ana enjoys teaching the Rancho Cucamonga Marching Cougars to prepare them for competitions and other performances.
“This will be my 12th year teaching band,” said Ana. “I really enjoy teaching and watching students grow and progress over the various years that they spend in the program here at Rancho.”
The performance had many entertaining visuals and music for all the attending families and friends to enjoy.
“I thought the overall performance was great. It was entertaining and it was great to see so many familiar faces,” said Anthony Valtier, a parent who attended the event. “I was surprised by the addition of the Dolly Parton ‘I Will Always Love You’ piece and the way they rearranged it.”
In addition, one performer for the show, Leighla Jade said, “I thought the Parent Preview went really well and it was very fun, very loud, and very tiring.”
Band students prepared for this performance since the beginning of the school year.
“I think my favorite part of Parent Preview is watching the students being able to perform the show for the first time and the excitement on their faces,” said Ana.
After the performance, families and friends were able to get together on the field to congratulate the performers. Many emotions were experienced, but there was mainly joy and excitement.
“I think the band overall is an opportunity to build community, just to build friendships, and see them grow year to year. I love the band,” said Valtier.
There will be more upcoming events for the Rancho Cucamonga High School band, including their competition season that kicks off in the middle of October.
“We don’t have any more upcoming events here on campus, but we do have our competition season that kicks off at Ayala High School on October 12,” Ana said. “We’re at Chaffey High School on October 19, and then we’re at Etiwanda High School on November 2.”
