Marching Band & Color Guard
Marching Band & Color Guard (MBCG) is part of Los Altos High School’s Instrumental Music program — but with 70-plus students, a full fall competition season, and a major share of the activity, it gets a page of its own. Each fall, students build a competitive field show from the ground up and perform it at football games, community events, and Western Band Association competitions across California. Marching Band & Color Guard also satisfies the LAHS physical education requirement.
The program welcomes students in grades 9–12: musicians (some music experience is recommended but not required) and color guard members, who don’t need any musical background. Because the marching season is concentrated in the fall, students are encouraged to also enroll in a year-long ensemble — Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, or Orchestra.
Directed by band director Ted Ferrucci and assistant director Tim McAfee, with the marching band and color guard instructional staff.
This fall’s show: Metamorphosis
For Fall 2026, Marching Band & Color Guard presents Metamorphosis — a field show that traces a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly, and mirrors the way our performers grow and transform over the course of a season.
The show unfolds in three movements:
- Mov. 1 — Turmoil: rigid, angular, and grounded. The ensemble moves in tight groups and sharp geometric shapes, low to the ground.
- Mov. 2 — Discovery: color and motion begin to bloom. Lines soften, flowers open, and individuals find their independence as spring arrives.
- Mov. 3 — Exploration: fully fluid movement and new heights. Simple shapes give way to curves and asymmetry — and the butterflies take flight.
The color palette transforms along with the story, opening in earthy browns, yellows, and oranges and resolving into blues and pinks by the closer.
The season
The year begins with a fall band camp, where students learn the show and come together as a group before classes ramp up. From there the ensemble performs at home football game halftimes and travels to regional competitions through the fall, building toward championship weekend. The season is capped by a senior banquet celebrating our graduating performers.
It’s an intense, rewarding season — and it only happens with significant parent support.
Season calendar
During the season the regular weekly rehearsal schedule is:
- Monday — Brass & Woodwinds, 4:00 – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday — Percussion & Color Guard, 4:00 – 7:00 PM
- Friday — full ensemble, 4:00 – 7:00 PM
- Saturday — full ensemble, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday and Saturday rehearsals are shortened as necessary before footbal games or competitions.
The calendar below lists everything besides those regular rehearsals — camps, football games, competitions, performances, and the days with no rehearsal. (Football-game days include the usual rehearsal beforehand.) Times marked TBD are confirmed closer to the date; full details are shared through the Google Group and the volunteer sheet.
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| July | ||
| Thu–Sat, Jul 30 – Aug 1 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Student leadership workshops |
| August | ||
| Mon–Sat, Aug 3 – 8 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Home band camp (6 days) |
| Thu, Aug 27 | 6:00 PM | Back to School Night Performance |
| Fri, Aug 28 | 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Rehearsal, dinner provided by boosters, then home football game |
| September | ||
| Fri–Sat, Sep 4 – 7 | — | Labor Day Weekend - no rehearsal |
| Fri–Sun, Sep 25 – 27 | Fri 4:00 PM - Sun - 4:00 PM | Away band camp at Camp Jones Gulch, leave after school on Friday, finish Sunday afternoon |
| October | ||
| Fri, Oct 2 | 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Rehearsal, dinner provided by boosters, then home football game |
| Fri, Oct 9 | 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Rehearsal, dinner provided by boosters, then home football game |
| Sat, Oct 10 | 9:00 AM at LAHS | Fremont Unified Expo (WBA exhibition) |
| Fri, Oct 16 | 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Rehearsal, dinner provided by boosters, then home football game |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 9:00 AM at LAHS | Independence Show — WBA #1 |
| Fri, Oct 23 | 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Rehearsal, dinner provided by boosters, then home football game |
| Sat, Oct 24 | 9:00 AM at LAHS | Cupertino TOB — WBA #2 |
| Fri, Oct 30 | Parade 1:00 PM · Game 7:00 PM | Homecoming parade, rehearsal, dinner provided by boosters, then home football game (Homecoming & Senior Night) |
| November | ||
| Sat, Nov 7 | 9:00 AM at LAHS | Hollister Show — WBA #3 |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Veterans Day — rehearsal as scheduled (no day off) |
| Sat, Nov 14 | 9:00 AM at LAHS | WBA Regional at Logan — WBA #4 |
| Fri, Nov 20 | 4:00 – 7:00 PM | Rehearsal, then depart for championships (likely Fresno) |
| Sat, Nov 21 | TBD | WBA Class Championships — WBA #5 |
| Sun, Nov 22 | TBD | WBA Grand Championships (if qualified) |
| Sun, Nov 29 | Meet 3:00 PM · Parade 6:00 PM | Festival of Lights Parade — Downtown Los Altos |
Volunteer & calendar sheet
We coordinate the full schedule and all volunteer sign-ups through a shared Google Sheet that lists every event and the roles we need filled. The sheet for this season goes out at the end of band camp on August 8th, along with the rest of our volunteer and fundraising plans.
Get involved
MBCG depends on parent volunteers more than any other program. Families help with:
- Equipment trucks — loading and driving gear to performances and competitions
- Chaperoning at camp, games, and overnight competition trips
- Meals and hospitality at rehearsals, before football games, and at competitions
- Props, uniforms, and fittings
- Volunteer coordination — leading and scheduling the parent crew
To plug in, join the Marching Band Google Group for schedules and news, come to the MBCG portion of the monthly Boosters meeting, and watch for the volunteer sign-up sheet after band camp.
Monthly meeting
The Boosters hold a monthly Zoom meeting open to all parents, with a Marching Band & Color Guard segment that covers upcoming performances, travel logistics, and volunteer needs. The link is shared through the Google Group.
Support the program
Marching Band & Color Guard is our largest undertaking — covering support staff, travel, and equipment for the full competitive season. Because of that, MBCG runs its own fundraising campaign, separate from the Boosters’ Back-to-School campaign. That campaign hasn’t launched yet: the volunteer and fundraising plans for the season will be presented at the end of band camp on August 8th. Please hold off until then — we’ll share everything you need at that point.