Winter break was certainly one to remember for the California High School band.
Right after unwrapping their Christmas presents, the band packed up and headed south to San Antonio to perform, and compete, in the Alamo Bowl. This trek was the first for all of the members, making it quite a memorable one, especially senior Charlie Turner.
"It was such a cool experience," the trumpet player said. "We got to ride through the city and see all the sights."
At the bowl, the band players had the opportunity to meet and play with a mass band during the game. This mass band was comprised of around nine different high schools from around the country.
"It was really exhilarating to perform with so many people like that," sophomore trumpet player Ella Carlyle said.
Band instructor Tyler Edwards said the fourteen hour bus ride began Dec. 28, with Mother Nature helping the excursion.
"We caught a tailwind on the way there," Edwards said. "So it was a lot faster getting down there than coming back up."
Despite the long and winding road, Edwards was proud of how his instrumentalists panned out for the journey.
"They competed in the parade and field portions," Edwards said. "They won first place in both parts in their division."
One trombone player had flashbacks to a similar band trip in a past life.
"I went on a trip like this with my sibling when I was in middle school," Emmanuel Isidro said. "We went to the Florida Citrus Bowl. That was a lot of fun, too, but it was nothing like this."
The junior most enjoyed the architecture of the older buildings San Antonio had to offer. Another musician, tenor sax junior Johnny Garcia, was thoroughly impressed with a famous feature of San Antonio.
"We got to ride on the riverboat," Garcia said. "I've heard about the riverboat, but it was so cool to be able to be on it."