'The kids that saved the show': Whiteface band headed to state with help of bass guitarists

WHITEFACE — Whiteface CISD is no stranger to the state marching band contest.

Since 2015, the Antelope band (which includes eighth through 12th graders) has made four appearances at state, earning a top-three finish each time and coming home state champions in 2017. During its last two appearances in '19 and '21, Whiteface claimed silver.

On Tuesday, Whiteface will step onto the turf for its fifth-straight state performance at the Alamodome in San Antonio, seeking to become Class 1A champs once again.

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This year's show — titled "Rise" — is a bit unconventional. Marching band is typically devoid of any stringed instruments, instead relying on the traditional brass, woodwind and percussion sections. Rarely do you see a bass guitar plugged into an amp on the sideline, much less two.

But when the band lost a key member right before the season started, Whiteface High School seniors Chris Olguin and Akbar Azua, both already guitar players, stepped up and learned to play the bass to make up for the missing piece. Kayla Driver, head band director at Whiteface, said the boys "saved" the band's season.

"Ms. Driver calls us 'the kids that saved the show,'" Olguin said.

"Originally, we had a piano player, and she was supposed to have the main part that we play, but she ended up dropping band. We never really heard the reason why," Olguin said. "After she dropped, Ms. Driver needed a part to be filled in right there, because we needed that spot or else the whole show would just clash."

So Driver recruited the two and adapted the piano part for bass. But, although both had taken acoustic guitar lessons before, neither had ever picked up a bass until the first day of rehearsal.

"I picked it up and realized it was four strings, and I was like, 'Crap, what is this?'" Azua said. "This is all new to me, but it's not bad. It's pretty easy. The strings are a lot bigger and the frets are wider, but it's not bad."

Learning to play a new instrument has been just one of a number challenges for the boys to get to this point, however. Azua is returning to band for the first time since his eighth grade year, and Olguin is working to balance band with athletics and other extracurriculars.

Band is not the only thing Whiteface is good at, by the way. Olguin is a member of the Antelopes six-man football team, which ended its regular season Friday night with a perfect 10-0 record and the district title. Just a few days after the band returns home from state, playoffs start, and Olguin will be on the sideline in his pads with a guitar around his neck at halftime.

"(Balancing everything) is hard. A lot of frustration, a lot of blood, sweat and tears poured into it," Olguin said. "It's just a habit now, something that I expect I need to do and I just push myself to do it no matter how tired I get."

Azua dropped band before his freshman year after he and his father were in a serious head-on collision.

"My dad was airlifted, and he was in the ICU for a week and a half. I was in the hospital for a week. But my dad had it really rough and they didn't think he was going to make it. I didn't think he was either," Azua said. "Thankfully, God was on our side and everything worked out. But coming back from that was a struggle."

Looking back, he said, "I would have never thought I would be doing this right now." Returning to band, and the state marching contest, are a blessing, Azua added.

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The band as a whole has faced its fair share of challenges as well.

"We've had a new band director every year," Olguin said. "It's kind of hard getting used to a new person every time, and it kind of hurts when they leave because you grow a good, special bond with them."

The boys are thankful for Driver's leadership this year.

"She listens to everybody," Olguin said.

"She takes her time with each person," Azua added.

According to Principal Christopher Mendez, the WHS band has continued to power through and succeed in the midst of director turnover because of the small school's culture of excellence.

"This particular program is renowned for excellence," Mendez said. "I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I want to be one of those schools that whenever we show up somewhere, they're like, 'Oh dang, it's Whiteface.'"

Whiteface competes in the UIL State Marching Band Championships Tuesday at 11 a.m.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Whiteface band headed to state marching contest with help of bass guitarists