The Sierra Vista High School Color Guard meets in the band room during eighth period on every Gold day. The Color Guard team performs choreographed shows using equipment such as flags, rifles, and sabres to tell a creative story that enhances the musical performance of our award-winning Marching Band. The team performs the shows at competitions against other high schools where they use larger set pieces. The Color Guard also performs during the halftime show of SVHS football games and during school assemblies.
Sara Pearson teaches the Color Guard class for her first year following the leaving of long time band director Melissa Bushee, with Emely Hernandez and Kendall Chini volunteering to teach as well and starting their seventh and fourth years respectively. Pearson notes when she first gained interest in Color Guard, “There were so many passionate students in the program that it’s a joy to work with the students in the band and Color Guard program. So what got me interested was really the students.” Hernandez comments on when she first became interested in Color Guard, “I was in Color Guard my Sophomore year all the way until senior year. I was a captain and really enjoyed being able to teach others and wanted to continue that.” Chini comments on when her interest sparked, “I was in 7th grade and I was looking for a club and this random girl with a flyer came up and said I should join now here I am.”
Rylie Walter (12), dedicated Captain of the Color Guard team and five year Color Guard veteran, shares, “My favorite part is the way it becomes a safe space, no matter the day I had and feeling like I belonged somewhere.” Walter shares when she first became interested in Color Guard, “I saw someone with a flag and said I’ll try that. I thought it was just a club that was kind of like a dance club but I had no idea it was so much more than that.” Walter participates in many competitions in both marching season and Winter Guard. While discussing her competition performances, Walter shares, “It’s a rush of excitement and nervousness. You finally get to show what you’ve been working on but you’re scared of messing up anything.”
Julianna Reed (12), another devoted Captain of the Color Guard team, continues her fifth year of Color Guard this year. While discussing her favorite part about Color Guard, Reed says, “My favorite parts about Color Guard is the bonds you create while spinning with other people. These friendships last forever and are always special to me and a nothing part is dancing in Color Guard.” Reed shares when she first became interested in joining Color Guard, “My 8th grade year a high school student had come in to the advanced band to talk about Color Guard. She introduced that we would spin flags and be dancers so I just got interested in the dancing part because I’ve always been a dancer so I wanted to continue to be one.” During Reed’s time on the Color Guard team, she competed several times, sharing, “Performing in front of people is always nerve wrecking and always brings butterflies to my stomach but when I get in my performance mood and lock in and the people watching no longer matter to me it’s if my team has fun performing and as long as they did good then I’m happy.”
Color Guard typically performs alongside the marching band as Reed comments, “Color Guard has done marching season competitions with the band. As the band plays their instruments we toss flags and rifles and dance to the music of our performance showcasing our talents as a group and performer.” Walter adds, “I’ve done countless competitions for marching band and Winter Guard, and we have the band concerts where Color Guard performs something.”
