WATSONVILLE—Two Watsonville Community Band members, trombonist Samuel Waite and bass clarinetist Yazlyn Estrada, have been awarded full scholarships to the Fresno Pacific University Summer Music Camp in June.
Both students are graduates of the WCB Youth Band and now play with the adult unit. The Youth Band is a WCB program that began six years ago to provide instrumental music instruction to Pajaro Valley students. Since the Pajaro Valley Unified School District has been reinstating its own music programs, the Youth Band provides additional experience for students and support for the school programs.
Waite and Estrada are two of the newest members of the Community Band, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
The scholarships are being awarded by the Thirsty Nine German Band, a now-independent offshoot of the Watsonville Band, having been formed for the Band’s trip to Chicago and Montreal in 1967.
Both Waite and Estrada will make their first appearance with WCB as they march along Main Street in this year’s Watsonville Independence Day Parade, 75 years to the day after the then-Watsonville Sciots Band’s very first performance.
