Video game music to headline Bandtasia

BARSTOW • If you think you’re hearing the familiar strains of Halo 3 or Super Mario Brothers at Bandtasia, you’re not mistaken.

The annual day-long concert Saturday will showcase performances, starting with the elementary school groups up to the high school bands. Musicians from the Barstow High School concert band will top the evening with a debut performance of their video game music line-up.

Barstow High band director Tim Garvin said this year’s study of video game music harkened back to the cartoon music theme his band played in 1995. The band played recognizable tunes like the opening of “The Simpsons” and “Rocko’s Modern Life.” While video game and cartoon music might seem like child’s play, said Garvin, the students then and now found the music challenging.

“They quickly realized, ‘Hey, this stuff is difficult,’” he said.

Garvin created Bandtasia 16 years ago. If a person sat in the gym for the entire event, he or she would see the progression that student musicians make through 10 years, from fourth through 12th grade.

“It just gives the parents and community a chance to come and see all the instrumental music throughout the district,” said Garvin, who noted that there are roughly 1,300 in the district’s band programs.

“There needed to be some kind of showcase that would highlight all the work that these kids are doing.”

This year’s new addition of a fundraising dinner at Rosita’s Restaurant immediately follows the back-to-back concerts. The event will raise money for the high school marching band and color guard’s upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., where they will perform in the Memorial Day parade.

The evening will include a dinner and a silent and live auction, said Heather Saenz, first vice president of the Barstow High band boosters. The silent auction will include 70 items including gift baskets and restaurant gift certificates. Items like Los Angeles Angels tickets, an iPod touch, a Coach handbag and matching wallet and a flat-screen television will be up for grabs in the live auction.

Saenz, who has two children in band, has watched her kids mature as musicians over six years of Bandtasia.
“It’s been amazing as a parent to see the kids grow from year to year,” she said.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4122 or elee@desertdispatch.com

• Bandtasia
What: Back-to-back performances of elementary, junior high and high school bands.
When: Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Barstow High School Don Bilsborough Memorial Gym, 430 South First Street.
Cost: Free.

• Dinner and auction
What: Fundraising dinner with silent and live auction for the band’s Washington, D.C. trip.
When: After performances Saturday at 6 p.m.
Where: Rosita’s Restaurant, 540 West Main Street.
Cost: Tickets are $25 and will be available at Bandtasia and at the door.