Student Testimonials
Straight from the Student's Mouth... What we have to say about our program.
Marienne Cuison
"Many do not believe the progress that our high school band has made during the past two years. Before Mr. Cato arrived at Mt. Eden high school the band didn't stand out as much as we do now. Before we were simply "the band." No one went to our concert or told us that we looked awesome at the rally during spirit week but, now everyone is saying .." man, i wish i joined the band.." or " wow, did you hear the band during lunch.. they were hella good" I have been participating in a band since i was in 5th grade and out of all the years I know that this year is the best year. Not only did we actually sound good but we also got to start traditions. Traditions like the marching band that we haven't had at our school for a very long time and the big annual band tours. Mt. Eden high school band has just started to lay down the official foundations for a very high progressing program. As a senior i will be graduating and leaving the band but I will return to help because this band
has helped me so much during the past two years. It gave me opportunities that i have never dreamed of. Like, a trip to Hawaii, starring in a Coke commercial and being part of a band that I know can reach the top and continue on making each year better than the years before."
Candace Felix
"I am a Junior at Mt.Eden and have been in the band since sophmore year. Originally my goal in band was to use it as my performing arts elective and I wasnt planning on getting too involved. But, as time progressed, I realized that there is so much more to band and that I have benefited tremendously from the experiences it has put me through. This year our Band was featured in a Coca Cola commercial. We attended the Hawaii Heritage Festival in Honolulu, and also we were able to send 10 members of our Wind Ensemble to All State Honor Band. Also, we attended the CMEA festival at CSUEB were we scored a Superior Unanimous for our beginning concert band. Being a part of this music program has definitly been the high light of my High School career. Looking forward to next year, I believe whole-heartly that "the sky is the limit."
Amber Reaves
"Music is an escape but learning and playing it is an exceptional bliss. Skeptical though I was in my beginning, i unknowingly opened my mind to a special knowledge of one of my first loves: music. With below average knowledge of music and a few weeks of piano class under my belt, i joined our Symphonic Band. I learned alot about music (theory and performance mainly), increased my social life by the dozens and opened me to traveling opportunities. I especially enjoy the fun we have and the people that have made it that way. Without Band, I'm not quite sure how my first year at Mt. Eden would have been."
Travis Roush
"Two years ago, I was in the 8th grade. My older friend was already attending Mt. Eden and was playing in the band while I was at Ochoa Middle School. I remember going to several band outings with my friend, and thinking that i wasn't very impressed. No one cared about band. No one cared why they were there. That was the year before i got to Mt. Eden. The teacher then was Mr. Jackson.
"Then last year, Mt. Eden hired our new teacher, Kevin Cato, to teach the music classes. Last year when he started with us, we were barely a music program. All we had was symphonic band and jazz band. Slowly throughout the year he started doing more and more with us. We went to Anaheim, Pittsburg, Los Altos, and to CSUH and Chabot numerous times. We started winning last year. We did well in Anaheim. Then Pittsburg. Then on and on. We were on a roll. By the end of last year, the whole band had changed their views on band. Before, everybody cut a lot of band classes, and never practiced. Now it's totally changed.
"For the first time in 15 years, Mt. Eden now has a full-fledged marching band. Mr. Cato has turned things around for us at Mt. Eden. People used to say, "Oh, Hayward can't be good, they're too ghetto." Now we're beating those people in competitions.
"From the two classes that Mr. Cato came to, he has now added around six groups to our program. And we're still growing. Our program currently includes jazz band, combo, symphonic band, wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, marching band, orchestra, and chamber ensemble. For our wind ensemble class that Mr. Cato created, we get college credit. Mr. Cato has changed things around for this school. I think people are realizing this now. Thank you Cato."
Marielle Cuison
"My experience in the Mt. Eden High School Band has made high school even more exciting for me. Last year, as a freshman, it only my first time playing a wind instrument. I decided to join band to continue my love for music. Last year was also Mr. Cato's first year at Mt. Eden, so i knew how he felt walking into a room full of strangers. For me, it was very scary because I knew I wasn't the best musician in the class so i thought people would single me out, but they didn't. I felt welcomed and i felt important. That's why i was always so happy to go to band, especially this year. I made many new friends of all different grades and ethnicities. What makes me so proud of being a part of the MEHS band is the fact that we are so diverse. Our band is made up of many different ethnicities, from Mexicans to Tongans. We stand out compared to other bands. When we went to Hawaii this April for a Heritage Festival competition, I noticed that we were the most diverse band. All the other bands were all one ethnic ity, but we stood out. The people in band are what really makes it so fun to be a part of this program. While we were shooting our Coca Cola commercial, we all entertained the other people in the commercial by playing our "Pep Band" music. We're so full of life, even though many people at our school are unsupportive and "ghetto". We totally break the stereotypical band, and that's what makes us so cool.
"This schoolyear has been nothing but non-stop band action! Every month, there was something exciting going on. So far, we've been featured in a Coke commercial, been in the Oakland winter parade, played at our high school football and basketball games, traveled to Hawaii, had many successful concerts and competitions, but we still have many more exciting things heading our way. Our band program has been getting better and better, and as a sophomore, i know that my next two years in band will be even better than this year. Many people say that when you reach the top, all you can go is one way, and that's downhill. For our band, i think that we can go higher and higher because we are made up of many talented and dedicated musicians. One last thing I'd like to point out, which is pretty obvious, is that we are all just teenagers. If anyone ever said that a group of sixty teenagers couldn't win competitions, travel to Hawaii, have self-discipline, have a passion for classical music or jazz, learn how to ma rch in a week, and be featured in a Coke commercial, then they're wrong, because we did."
Skky Foster
"This year has gone by so fast and the band has done so much. From doing a Coca -Cola commercial, marching in parades and going to Hawaii and winning 6 awards. This is my first year in high school as well as living here in Hayward and I feel as if the people in band were a second family. I have grown a lot by watching everything around me and how lucky and gifted we are to have accomplished so much. Although I am a Freshman I can see why the upper classmen are amazed because there was a time they didn’t expect much out of band. But with me becoming a sophomore next year I hope that things will continue going well and hopefully this year watching the other leaders will help on my leadership for next year. This year’s band experience has made me want to strive for more and help encourage everyone to want to have the same year that we had last or an even better year. But I am looking forward to next year and how long of a journey it will be."
End of the Year Reflections for the MEHS Band
2005-2006
Skky Foster
Hello, my name is Skky Foster and I’m currently a freshman in high school. This year’s band experience has been extraordinary!! Our group has grown so much and has come together and became a family. I’m amazed on how well we have done in every competition especially the way that the upperclassmen were talking about band before Mr. Cato came and changed everything around, and he’s only been here for two years. I know I haven’t been here over the years, but I really understand or can feel what everyone (upperclassmen) has been through. But I cant wait for the next year! I’m looking forward to help make band as good as this year.
Genesis Santos
Personally, I think this year went pretty good. I think it went better than last year. This year was successful. The band got so much better and our awards reflect it. This year we got 1st place gold for the first time. I also think that the band got more united, which makes it sound better. In my case, I started to like band more. Before, I didn’t really care and was just in here for the heck of it, but seeing how good the band sounded and how united everyone was made me look forward to band next year. =]
Fernando Banuelos
This year in band was in my thoughts were good in some ways. Some good things were that we got to be in a coke commercial, and we got to go to Hawaii too. We also got first in almost every competition we went to this year. Also we got invited this year to go next year to go to see the top 20 bands with us in it in Boston. We got at least 1 gold in all of the Heritage Festivals except the San Francisco one. That’s why this year in band in my thoughts were good. Thanks.
Josh Everett
This year has gone pretty well because we have done so many things. We have done a commercial, parades, band reviews, and different concerts. We have also done Heritage festivals in Hawaii and Anaheim. We have done pretty well in competitions, especially CMEA. In our last CMEA, we got very high scores in both Symphonic band and Wind Ensemble. We also did pretty good in Hawaii and Anaheim. This year has been a busy but fun-filled year. I hope that we will do as good and/or better next year.
Basil Balneg
This year has been pretty sweet because its like first ever bands both Symphonic band and Jazz band. These two bands were really organized and yet we still succeeded. The drum majors, section leaders, and band council really did their jobs. But in middle school it was very unorganized because the leader didn’t step up and do the roles. In the beginning of the year, I didn’t think I was going to Hawaii. But then Cato wanted me to go but I had to play in wind ensemble. Beginning of year, wind ensemble was very difficult. After hearing most of the wind ensemble performances, playing tuba this year isn’t the same because I have an influence and Houa really inspired me to get better. Next year I hope I can do better. Over and out.
Tino Garcia
I think this year went extremely well. I wasn’t here last year, but I’ve heard many things, and compared to what I heard and about compared to what I heard and this year, I think the band has improved a lot. This year the band improved but also went though many cool experiences. At the beginning of the year, everyone was focused and were excited because we were going to be in a parade. Well, we did alright because we then got the chance to star in a commercial. The commercial was fun and tough but it was a great experience. After we went to festivals at Cal State East Bay and Chabot and did fine. When we went to Hawaii we did a very, very good job and won 1st place gold! Then in Anaheim we repeatly won 1st place gold again! Hopefully next year we do even better.
Randall Anderson
This year was very interesting year for a lot of people including me. This year I met a few people and got a few close friends. I crack some lady this year close somebody this moss 4 people at the sometimes also I saw fights and drama going on this year-bandwise. I got to perform in a lot of places and saw a lot of things that were interesting. Also I got to Anaheim aka Disney Land and met two girls and got a number from one also broke a new girls in dancing and that’s how this year was.
Irene Saffel
I think that this year has gone great. In the beginning I was a little uneasy because I did not know Mr. Cato or many of the band people. But my unease faded with time and turn into wonder. This band had turned into something so big and wonder’s that most now have to take a step back and look with awe. For we have not only become better instrumentalists but better people because of this program I find that the more time I spend with the people for this band, the more I grow with confidence that I have never experienced before. I have grown to love this band with a passion and I think I will continue to love it even more next year.
Dulce Enciso
So far this year I think it’s been pretty good. I think this year has been very successful. I think its been very successful because of the coke commercial and all of the gold medals the band won. Mt. Eden High School Marching Band has also made a big difference this year because last year not a lot of people knew there was a band at school. This year, the band is more recognized and supported by more people. The band has also encouraged people to have more school pride.
Trevor Aviles
I think that this band year went really well from what I heard. To me, this year was more than just a success. We actually got on TV! I knew I was going to get on TV, but never through a marching band! I’ve heard from all the veterans that have been here last year have said all these years have been boring and uneventful, but every since Cato came, this band has really turned around. I came from King, teacher was MR. BOYD! What it do and he had the same intensions and goals as Cato. So I think this year is a little similar to last year. Only not the commercial. This year turnout out to be a lot better than I though!
Amanita Houa
This year is really something like no other. The band has improved in so many different ways and has gotten so far. This band has taught me a lot! To appreciate not only the music but the way of it. I really never thought of music musically. I have been taught to listen carefully as if they were telling a story. I really never thought this band would of made it this far. From marching into parades, to airing in a Coca-Cola commercial, to scoring high in Heritage festivals, to taking 1st place gold in Hawaii and Anaheim for Wind Ensemble, I’m just so grateful that I am taking part in this! Thanks Cato!!
Bernardo Godinez
First of all, I think this band school year has been a successful year. I’d never thought we were going to have this great of a year. I think that one reason this years was successful was because everyone was motivated. I think this year went off smoothly but there was a little bit more we had to work on. Through out this year, I think I did good. I became more of an independent leader and knew what was going on. I didn’t have to wait for someone to tell me what to do. This year was one of the best years I ever had. We won so many trophies. One main trophy we had was when we won sweepstakes. This trophy was that we got the highest scores out of all the bands.
Timothy McDonald
I think this year went fast. It was realy fun to go to the Oakland X-Mas parade. It was nice to meet new people and go places like the San Francisco heritage festivals. It was really nice to know that I was apart of some of the competitions that took place this year for the band. The one concert that I went to was really great. Even though it was really long you were never bored and got to see lots of new people and meet your friends and family. I really enjoyed the crab feed. However I was disappointed we did not have the concert with the middle school and elementary. Thank you.
Naya Duran
This year was spectacular. Hawaii and the Coke commercial was amazing. We got gold which was really good. In Cal State they said that they never heard a band as good as us in 20 years. Getting along was fun. We all got to know each other and we got pretty close. Even at lunch I saw that from this year that there was even a band group, rather than everyone with they’re own friends.
Francis Bonus
This year is by far the best year throughout my whole band career. The band was given more opportunities than any other year I attended. I liked how we got to go to different places like Hawaii and the band reviews at other high schools. Also, the band itself sounded was better than the last two years I’ve been here. Even though we are playing harder college level music, we are still able to play them. Without the direction of Mr. Cato, we wouldn’t have gone as far as we did. We are setting a name for ourselves and hopefully this trend will continue throughout the next couple of years.
Andrew Spiteri
A 100 words on this year in band…this year in was long at time, but it was worth it in the end because we won so, so many trophies. It was also very fun in Hawaii, even if it took a very long time to raise all of that money. At times I had second thoughts about being in band, but I was glad I stayed in band. It seemed like kept getting better and better. I sort of wish my sports teams were like that. It was a great surprise, how good we were, so it makes me get a little anxious for next year. So this was very, very, very interesante (interesting in Spanish) this year. Thank you.
Melissa Woods
This year was very memorable and had it’s ups and downs. Overall I think that it was good and even better than last year. My favorite was the Awards Ceremony at Hawaii because everyone was going dumb! Some parts of this year were less enjoyable such as the disrespect of fellow band members. In the end, I think our band has excelled and we have made a great name for ourselves. Hopefully in years to come we will continue to excel. The band events were fun and I hope to find a connection with all the band people.
BJ Palomo
I think that through this year, was really awesome. I know I’m only a freshman but so far in high school, this was a pretty awesome year for me. When I first entered this high school band, I became really nervous and shy. I also kept on messing up on the music since I couldn’t really focus. But after a while, I soon realized that this band is all right. I had so much fun with the band and done so many things. Some of the other band members were supportive, and some that likes to mess with me. But this year was really awesome. And if this year is awesome, maybe next year too (hopefully). We’ve done so many things, and won so many trophies, I hope we can do that again.
Candace Felix
This year has definitely been the highlight of my high school career. I never could have imagined that the band (the Mt, Eden HS Band) could achieve so much within the 2nd year of a new band director’s reign. It has really impacted my life to the point where now I want to become a music major in addition to an academic major of some sort. I know that music will take me some place. Before going to Hawaii I had never been on a plane and had never been out of the state of California. I am so grateful for the passion and dedication that has been instilled into my heart and also all of the other tight skills I have learned this year. Thank you.