Dear incoming Freshmen,

Hi. My name's Ciaran Downey. I'm a San Marcos high school student. I'm in the class of '09.

I've been asked to write this letter by one of the 'band moms.'  To be perfectly honest, I don't feel like I'm the best person to write a letter like this.  I only joined Marching Band (a first semester only course) in my Junior year.  I don't play an instrument and I've never actually taken an official "band" class.  I was the "sound engineer" for the band, and despite my tone-deaf ears, my inability to tell the difference between a bass and a base, and my idea of a "uniform" being jeans and a t-shirt, I had some of the most fun I've had in high school performing, practicing, and generally hanging out with the band and its members.

Yes, I was asked to write a letter encouraging you to join band in high school.
No, I would not have written one of these if I wasn't asked to.

However, I do, honestly and truthfully, encourage you to join the high school band.  It was an incredible experience. I made a ton of friends, a ton of memories, and had a ton of fun.  Seriously, band was some of the most fun I've had in high school.  If I could retake high school, I'd sign up for every band class I could, every year I could.

Ciaran Downey ‘09

Sound Engineer