The Lancer

The Lancer

The Lancer

TOHS Theatre Flies Among the Stars
TOHS Theatre Flies Among the Stars
Gemma Spraggins, Assistant News Editor • November 21, 2023

With opening night of “Peter and the Starcatcher” on Thursday, November 16th, and closing night on Saturday, November 18th, the cast has...

Boston Journalism Convention goes in all the ‘write’ ways
Boston Journalism Convention goes in all the ‘write’ ways
Aandrea Pineda-Dominguez, News Editor • November 6, 2023

With a stinging chill in the air, professional writers and aspiring journalists gathered in Boston, MA for the annual JEA/NSPA Fall National...

Should schools have a block schedule?
Maximus Cover and Christian-Isaiah Aguilar November 3, 2023

Fall Sports Round-Up
November 3, 2023

No red flags for Girls Flag Football
No red flags for Girls Flag Football
Lilah Swaving and Riley Brown October 28, 2023

Former Thousand Oaks High School varsity head football coach Mike Leibin took on a new yet somewhat familiar challenge: TO girls flag football...

Lancers tie for Canyon League title
Lancers tie for Canyon League title
Jackson Kurtz, The Lancer Staff • October 28, 2023

Q&A THE LANCER: What challenges did you have to overcome in your first season?” MCENROE: “Every job is unique and there’s no such...

Lakers Preview: Title No. 18?
Lakers Preview: Title No. 18?
Jake Bradley, Sports Editor • October 28, 2023

With LeBron James entering his 21st season in the NBA, he only has his eyes on winning his fifth championship and, for the Lakers, their...

AROUND T.O.WN
Rhiannon Hendershot, The Lancer Staff • October 28, 2023

Reign of Terror 275 N Moorpark Rd East, Thousand Oaks, Sept. 29-Nov. 4, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Walk through various bone-chilling rooms and exhibits...

Preserving the human aspect in the age of AI
Preserving the human aspect in the age of AI
Joseph Goodnight, Opinion Editor • October 28, 2023

With the ever-changing scope of technology, we as a generation constantly have to accept new ways in which artificial intelligence is integrating...

Día de los Muertos Dance strives for increased inclusivity
Día de los Muertos Dance strives for increased inclusivity
Kimberly Jerez, The Lancer Staff • October 28, 2023

The Latino Connection Club at Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Westlake High have come together to host their annual Día de los Muertos dance,...

OFF-CAMPUS PASS
Momo Sonoda, Editor-In-Chief • October 28, 2023

Unanimous GOP vote elects Rep. Mike Johnson for House Speaker More than three weeks after the historical outsting of the Speaker of the House,...

Cheers, Starbucks: a new staple in TO
Cheers, Starbucks: a new staple in TO
Kailah Spencer, The Lancer Staff • October 28, 2023

“Can I get a Lancer Frappuccino?” was something Starbucks manager Miguel Medina heard a lot of following the opening of the new store...

TO welcomes college visitors
Alyssa Kiszczak, Managing Editor • October 28, 2023

Throughout the year, TO provides students with college visits from many schools across the nation. They usually consist of an informational briefing...

Orchestra starting the year off on a good note
Orchestra starting the year off on a good note
Aandrea Pineda-Dominguez, News Editor • October 28, 2023

The instruments are finely tuning, patience is running out, and the maestro is preparing to orchestrate another musical masterpiece. Thousand...

Science Rooms gets a Facelift
Gemma Spraggins, Assistant News Editor • October 28, 2023

On the first day of the school year, TO forensics teacher Michael Flores watched his class experience science in a whole new way. As...

TOHS Band Performs in Italy

TOHS+Band+Performs+in+Italy

After only four weeks of minimal practice, 35 students from the Lancer Band travelled to Rome, Italy to perform in a parade on New Year’s day.

On Jan. 1st, the Thousand Oaks High School band had the opportunity to be part of a parade in the streets of Rome. They arrived in Italy on Dec. 27th and left Jan. 4th, and spending the other days sightseeing in famous locations like Florence, Pisa, Vatican City, and Pompeii.

“It was pretty good and I think it was a good opportunity for everyone that decided to go,” sophomore color guard performer Millie Shukla said.

Along with performing with the band, going to Europe in high school was a great cultural education for many students.

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“The Italy trip was an experience that allowed students to partake in a cultural immersion that we rarely could in the US,” said junior clarinet player Eadan Dury.

Near the end of the trip, the band even got to meet the European relatives of Mr. Martone, the band director.

“They were so receptive of us and kind that it was really memorable for everyone,” Dury said. “We marched down their village and they had a bagpipe and recorder group perform for us which was really cool.”

In preparation of the performance, the 35 students going on the trip rehearsed from 6:30 to 8pm every Monday for four weeks. Sophomore clarinet player Noeloni Ramiscal noted the difficulties of practicing marching at night and without a full band.

“Not everyone was able to make the rehearsal, so I don’t think we ever practiced with a full band,” Ramiscal said. “And there were times when we practiced marching outside in the freezing cold.”

However, the difficult practices were worth it when it came time to perform in Italy.

“Marching in the Rome parade was different from doing a parade here and I found that experience really memorable,” Shukla said. “The parade route was pretty interesting with many historical sites.”

Also, the parade in Rome was much more relaxed than the American ones the band usually performs in.

“It didn’t feel like an American parade or a normal parade because we were allowed to smile and wave at people,” Ramiscal said.

However, there were some unanticipated difficulties of marching in an old city. The cobblestone streets were smaller than the band was used to and they had to adjust to fit between buildings.

“We had to march on cobbled streets and people that were watching often got really close to the performers,” Shukla said.

Despite these obstacles, most agree that the parade was a lot of fun and a great experience.

“Performing away from home is something most performers have to do and get used to,” Ramiscal said. “The parade was so much fun.”

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TOHS Band Performs in Italy