CHS welcomes community to games

CHENEY – The Cheney High School Blackhawk Band Parent Booster held its second annual Community Day last Saturday at Cheney High School. The event drew a lively crowd of parents, students, and community members, all there to show their support for the Blackhawk Band.

The highlight of the day came when the band, led by Cheney High School Band Director Josh Wisswell, took the field at Oswald Field. The audience cheered as the band performed, showcasing their musical talent and precision under Wisswell's direction.

Lisa Brown, President of the Blackhawk Band Parent Booster, expressed her excitement for the event, saying, "The Blackhawk Band Parent Booster couldn't have been more pleased with the growth of our event this year! It was so rewarding to bring the community together to support one another, have fun and celebrate the hardworking, dedicated students of the Cheney High School Marching Band and Color Guard."

Proceeds from the event will go toward funding the band's upcoming trip to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where they will compete in the prestigious Bands of America Grand National Championship from Nov. 14-16. Cheney High School is the only band from Washington state competing this year, joining 113 other bands from across the country.

The Parent Booster Club has additional fundraisers planned to ensure every band member can make the trip. Upcoming events include the popular Apple Pie Sale and the Evening of Golden Notes gala and auction in the spring.

The band consists of 89 members and is supported by 14 staff members. In addition to the national competition in Indianapolis, they will compete locally at the Spectacle of Sound at Ridgeline High School, Cavalcade of Bands in the Tri-Cities, and the Bands of America event in Moscow, Idaho.

The band will also travel to the west side of the state to participate in the Puget Sound Festival of Bands in Everett, where they aim to defend their back-to-back sweepstakes championships, according to Brown.