Woodbridge High School Entertainment Corps wins elite band competition in Washington, D.C.

Following a stellar performance on a lawn just south of the White House, the Woodbridge High School Entertainment Corps was named Grand Champion of the inaugural Field Show USA marching band competition on Monday, Oct. 8. Woodbridge’s student-performers, who flew out to Washington, D.C. three days earlier, also earned top honors in the categories of percussion, brass, woodwind and auxiliary, which includes color guard and dance. “They’re just a great group of kids that work well together,” said Brad Harris, who directs the group along with Joslynne Blasdel. The WHS Entertainment Corps features more than 200 students, representing band, percussion, color guard and the dance team. Last spring, the renowned squad was one of only 15 bands from throughout the country invited to take part in the Field Show USA competition on the White House Ellipse. In fact, Woodbridge represented the entire state of California on Monday, and bands weren’t merely selected on the basis of their excellence in musicianship; organizers also factored in scholastic achievement and citizenship. The WHS students raised money for their trip and headed to Washington on Oct. 8. They’ll return as conquering heroes on Wednesday – but not before getting a chance to tour a number of historic museums and monuments. Yet the pinnacle of their journey was most certainly Monday’s showdown. Harris said corps members could hardly contain their enthusiasm after claiming the Marching Band Cup. Adding to the excitement, he said, President Obama’s helicopter flew overhead. “The students were really excited to come here,” said Harris. “They just took it all in and did a great performance. We couldn’t ask for a better job from them.” (Update: Orange County Register reporter Elysse James wrote a nice story on the triumphant return of the WHS Entertainment Corp. You can read it here.)