Centurion band growing, promoting interest in music

While the Centurion football team at Blessed John Paul II High School has been scoring big wins all year, the Centurion Band has also been making its mark with halftime shows.

The band, which got its start in 2009, begin this year with 14 band members, but now has blossomed to more than 25 members not including staff and parent stage hands. In addition to musical instruments, such as clarinets, flutes, trumpets, drums, trombones and saxophones, a Flag Color Guard, a Centurion with two Roman soldiers alongside and a jazz rhythm section accompany the marching band.
Jesse Pena directs the band with help from Missy Garcia and Tony Zamora. One of Pena’s goals is to develop more interest in music and band in the lower grades so that when students reach the high school level they can join the Centurion Band program and then continue their music education at the university level.

In addition to participating in the JPII High School football games, the Centurion Band will also participate in the Harbor Lights and Buc Days parades, make various visits within the diocese to elementary and middle schools and compete in UIL competition.

The band will be participating in many fund raising activities in order to achieve their ultimate goal of going to Walt Disney World in Florida.