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The presenter announces the next band. The fans in the stands go crazy. On the stadium floor, the musicians take their positions, looking directly at the directors. Four whistles sound and the music begins to flow freely. The result is overwhelming: Morning Glory marching Band is crowned Champions of the Primary School category in the national band competition held for the first time in Latin America by the Blue Devil Drum & Bugle Corps.
I still remember the year that I came to Morning Glory, I came to this institution in a very difficult time in my life. I had been unemployed for almost a year and I had financial problems that incremented daily. It wasn’t until June that Lori hired me. There was little time before the most anticipated band presentation in Guatemala: the 15th of September, Independence Day in our country. The school’s band only had some rhythm percussion instruments and a few Glockenspiels which we used for the melodies. On the day of participation, the band came in last place. And a lot of people made fun of [the institution] for the position we had.
So [we] got started with a lot of problems, yes. But we also came wish a great desires to make music and have opportunities to accomplish something big. Lori and I had a connection of ideas and dreams and that very motivating. [Lori] made a big effort the next year to get more instruments and also hired my partner, Yoni Quiran, who has worked with the percussion since then. So for the 15th of September of 2001, we won 1st place in the regional championship. From there, everything has been a story; story that is still being written with Morning Glory Marching Band who were able, in just one year, to be one of the best bands in the region. We have compete in the biggest spaces in the country, but above all, the best part has been realizing some of our dreams that we had at the beginning. And not only that. But we also give our students the ability to have a musical instrument in their hands and discover the potential each one of them has.
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