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When it comes to winning championships, it’s not only Folsom High School athletes that are known for bringing home the hardware as the school’s music program is known for its winning ways as well. 

This past Saturday, another trophy was added to that case that stands in the hallway as the Folsom High School color guard home the title in the 2023 Northern California Band Association (NCBA) Winter Championships. 

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Under the guidance of instructors Rebecca Fama and Nathan Peralta and Band Directors Curtis Gaesser and Gaw Vang Williams, the Folsom Color Guard took to the field of Rodriguez High School in Fairfield to showcase their talents that became award winning by the end of the evening. 

We are so proud of our color guard students and all their hard work this season. They have had an incredible drive and enthusiasm for this activity and this win is a reflection of that,” said Williams. “We also want to thank our Colorguard instructors for working with our students and for designing the show and thank you to the parent volunteers of the Folsom High School Music Boosters for their constant support.”

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It was a long day for the team as Folsom was the 21st group to take to the field Saturday and competed against 19 talented groups in the Regional 3A division. The division is the largest in the NCBA championships, making a title even tougher to win. 

The NCBA has been around since 1990. The organization was started by music directors with the goal to provide an organization that could judge diverse marching band competitions that were previously ran by independent organizations.

The organization is dedicated to the advancement of school music and band programs.  The core purpose of NCBA is to promote the development of balanced music and band programs; develop and maintain uniform methods, standards, rules, and procedures for evaluating and judging of bands and band member performances; enhance quality band programs through the promotion of well-organized concert and jazz festivals, solo/ensemble festivals, honor bands, and band and band-oriented competitions.

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The Northern California Band Association (NCBA) provides a slate of judges, that are routinely trained to improve and sustain their skills, for band competitions in Northern/Central California and Northern Nevada with the goal to provide consistency in adjudication at each competition.  

These competitions include field competitions, band reviews, concert band, jazz band, winter guard, percussion, and solo drum major competitions.

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Folsom was the 22nd color guard to take to the field Saturday and competed against 19 groups in the the Regional 3A division. The division is the largest in the NCBA championships, making a title even tougher to win. 

Bill Sullivan
Author: Bill Sullivan