More than 50 people from the Cerritos College Band Exchange concert played on Monday night at the Student Center.

Those from the Cerritos College Concert Band, directed by music instructor Alan J. Hallback, played the following: “El Conquistador” by James L. Tarver, “Shenandoah” by Dean Sorenson and “America On Parade” by John Cacavas.

Those from the College Symphonic Winds, directed by music instructor David Betancourt, played the following: “Invictus” by Philip Sparke, “Salvation is Create”d by Tschesnokoff, “Symphonic Dance No. 3 – Fiesta” by Clifton Williams and “Sabre and Spurs” by John Philip Sousa

Throughout the performance both groups were spectacular and if you haven’t heard the bands play you will be able to this semester and the best part is that it’s free.

But overall what is most striking about the Symphonic Winds during its performance is the piece called “Salvation is Created.”

That piece itself was soothing and you can hear it with the percussion in the background.

You think for a moment that it was a soothing motion picture when a character is finally at peace with a decision to move along after breaking up with someone with whom they had a relationship with. That’s how good the music was.

As for the Concert Band, it was all about patriotism with the song, “America On Parade.” With its thoughts on its theme the band did a good job because like any band that is performing for an audience it takes practice to hit the right notes and it showed that both of the bands have practiced towards perfection.

That is always a good thing. Betancourt stated that the Symphonic Winds had grown in number from last year’s band from 45 to more than 50 students and it shows.

Overall the more people you have, the practice you put in and end with a positive results at the end of the performance it’s worth taken in a band exchange concert. Like I said before, it’s all free; that’s the best part.

For more information about upcoming performances go to http://www.cerritos.edu/music