Clovis High hosting championship band

Clovis High School is hosting the Santa Clara Vanguard, a championship drum and bugle corps.

The Vanguard will stage two free evening performances  6 p.m. Monday and again Tuesday at Leon Williams Stadium.

Roger Wygant, public relations representative for the Clovis High School Band Boosters, said Clovis band is excited to be able to learn from a championship band.

“Our band members are encouraged to come out and sit and watch and learn from them,” Wygant said.

Wygant said the Vanguard is doing what the CHS band will be doing in a few weeks.

The CHS band will begin 12-hour practice days for their upcoming competition season.

The Vanguard travels nationwide, Wygant said, for six to eight weeks each summer from competition to competition, staying near high schools whenever possible to get more practice time in.

The visit to Clovis is being sponsored by the CHS Band, whose members are providing accommodations and practice facilities during their stay.

Wygant said the  CHS band is looking to attain national recognition this year and having the Vanguard in Clovis to learn from will be an invaluable experience.

“It will be great for the band to possibly learn from a real professional organization. They can learn a few tricks of the trade, gain some new ideas,” Wygant said.

Evening rehearsals are free and will last about three hours.