From April 14 to 17, the Rock City Regiment — the marching band made up of students from both Harrisonburg High School and Rocktown High School — took part in the annual Tiny Tots event held at HHS. The event, which is all about bringing music and fun to local kids in kindergarten through second grade, was full of energy, excitement, and even a few surprise characters.
This year, the band members went all out by dressing up as some of the most popular characters in kids’ media. From Mr. Incredible and Darth Vader to Elsa and Anna from Frozen, the costumes brought the performance to life and made the whole experience feel extra magical for the young audience.
Jose Rocha-Salva, one of the student leaders of the Rock City Regiment, talked about what the event meant to him and the rest of the group. “It was so cool seeing how happy the kids were,” he said. “I dressed up as Woody from Toy Story, and every time I walked by, kids would wave, high-five me, and smile. It reminded me why we do this.”
Even though it was a lot of work to prepare for the event — learning the music, organizing costumes, and performing multiple days in a row — students felt it was all worth it. “It’s more than just playing music,” Rocha-Salva added. “It’s about showing these kids that music is fun and exciting. Some of them might join a band one day because of this.”
Tiny Tots has become a tradition at HHS, and with performances like this, it’s easy to see why. The Rock City Regiment proved that music and a little creativity can go a long way in inspiring the next generation.
(Charlie Villalta)
