![It was definitely out of my comfort zone to get [the dress] and decide I loved it enough not to wait and risk not having something that memorable.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Precious_20180902_JRS_00008_ed1.jpg)
![Sophomore Sahasra Mandalapu practices bharatanatyam choreography in class. These new dances will be performed in an annual show in February. Mandalapu found that practicing in class helped her overcome stage fright during her performances. “When [I] get on stage, Im nervous Im going to forget, even though Ive done it for so long,” Mandalapu said. “Theres still that little bit of stage fright [when] I second-guess myself that I dont know it enough, but I do because Ive been practicing for a whole year.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sahasra-6-Large-1200x844.jpeg)
![In their full runway outfits, (from left) Audrey Lee 25, Olivia Lucy Teets, 25, Fashion Design teacher Ms. Judy Chance, and Xueying Lili Yang pose for a photo. All three girls made it to Austin Fashion Week by getting in the top 10 in a previous runway show held by Shop LC.
[I like my students] creativity and how they can look at a fabric and make it their own, Ms. Chance said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_9686-e1714088765730-1129x1200.jpeg)
![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
On Oct. 2, The President’s Own United States Marine Band performed at Millard West in Wildcat 1 as a part of their 2023 tour.
West was the band’s first location, as they will be busy performing throughout October and into the beginning of November. The band has been playing music for America since 1798, performing for former President John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. The President’s Own director during 1880-92 was the first to make sound recordings. The people who make it into the band enlist in the Marines for the sole purpose of being a part of the band. Band members of The President’s Own are some of the best musicians in the country. They have put on over 500 public and official concerts. As for the decision for the concert to be held here, a representative for the marine band reached out and contacted Millard West’s band director, John Keith, about the possibility of hosting the concert at the school. After speaking with the school staff, he determined that they could make it happen. From there, they began planning.
“Having the opportunity to host and hear one of the best concert bands in the world was an amazing experience for our students,” Keith said. “They were exposed to great music literature performed at a very high level. I hope it increased their love of the music and inspired them to continue to practice and develop as musicians.”
Around 2,000 tickets were issued for the concert. The band divides the U.S. into five regions and visits those regions once every five years, performing annually for the U.S. people. Taking video of the band was not permitted, but even still, the concert was memorable for all who attended.
“The concert was inspiring, especially to those in music here at West,” sophomore Alex Johnson said. “One of the marines sang with the band, which was really beautiful.”
In addition to watching the performance, students were also able to ask the Marine band members questions during a clinic that was put together for the varsity band.
“Considered one of the best concert bands in the world, it was an honor to have the opportunity to listen to the music they created,” junior Julia Maroon said. “They gave us plenty of tips about how to improve as musicians and told us the paths they took to get to where they are now. It was quite fascinating. As a musician, it inspired me to want to continue doing music in college.”
The Marine Band has put on shows all throughout October and will be putting together their next annual show for the west coast in 2024. Millard West hopes to host them again the next time they perform for the midwest in 2027.
This story was originally published on The Catalyst on November 9, 2023.
