The Burroughs High School band students traveled to the Sonoma State Invitational on March 13, turning a nine-hour journey into a weekend full of music, feedback and shared experiences. The trip to Sonoma was completed in a single day, with planned stops at Pacheco State Park and the Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point to break up the drive.
“I personally just enjoyed spending time with so many different people that I’m close with and have so much in common with,” said junior Angelica Vicuna. “Not to mention being able to play music in such a huge place that seemed to be very influential to aspiring musicians.”
Students began the following day with a 6:00 a.m. wakeup call to prepare for performances at Weill Hall. This year’s event was structured as an unrated, feedback-only showcase, prioritizing musical growth and professional clinics over traditional competition.
“Students got the opportunity to present something to an entirely new audience after months of hard work and received meaningful feedback from highly experienced music educators,” said Band Director Brian Cosner. “They were also able to see other schools perform as well as Sonoma State University’s premier performing groups.”
The Burroughs Wind Ensemble performed first at 11:00 a.m., playing “Jupiter” from The Planets by Gustav Holst, “Yorkshire Ballad” by James Barnes, and “Exhale” by Sean O’Loughlin. Later that afternoon, the Symphonic Band took the stage at 4:30 p.m., performing “Declaration Overture” by Claude T. Smith, “Nimrod” from Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and “Aventura” by James Swearingen.
Senior Kevin Jones, who performed on both trumpet and euphonium, reflected on the technical feedback provided by the adjudicators.
“One piece of feedback that was given to us was about how the end of each note determines where the next one begins, so one must balance the notes with each other,” said Jones.
Following the performances, the ensembles spent an additional night in Sonoma before beginning the return trip to Ridgecrest, which included a scheduled stop at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for more bonding time.
“They got to spend time with each other and bond in new, fun environments — whether it was a professional concert hall, a beautiful hike, or the hotel pool,” said Cosner.
That sense of connection carried into the return trip, where students found meaning in moments beyond the performance stage.
“My favorite part of the trip was walking through the aviaries at the Fresno zoo,” said senior Whitney Wonnacott.
While some students appreciated the planned stops, others found the most memorable moments in the unstructured time between events.
“The best part of the trip was singing songs with the group in my car,” said Elvie Pomazal.
For Cosner, the trip hit all the right notes.
“I always like seeing them bring all their hard work together in a performance that shows what they’re capable of,” said Cosner. “And stopping at a roadside attraction to try garlic-flavored ice cream was fun too.”
