ORANGE PARK — When Daniela Turrent and Dre Dunbar talk about music, their eyes light up.

A part of their lives for so long, the notes on the page seem to tell their story in no other way they know how.

The band is where they feel like they belong. Where their able to be themselves and their confidence can shine through.

It's home.

"You can play notes on a page, but I think love and passion for everything that you do is what truly makes a piece," Turrent said.

The two Ridgeview High seniors take to the field every week as part of the Pather Pride Marching Band. Dozens of students make up the robust ensemble, which has seen recent competition success.

Like several visual and color guard caption awards, and a superior rating for their Music Performance Assessments — the highest possible score a group can receive.

And this season, the group earned first place overall in the 3A division for the first time since 2021.

Band Director Arnaldo Colón said there's nothing but drive and motivation inside the school's band room — where you can find each student putting in the time and effort to hone in on their skills and put together a grand performance.

"It's hundreds if not thousands of hours for a show that's seven and a half minutes long," Colón said. 

And the behind-the-scenes work starts long before the season begins. That means weekly practices and summer band camps. And it also means daily rehearsals to pinpoint ways to grow and get even better.

"One of the biggest things that people don't realize is your mentality going into it, because it's very easy to burn out or get tired of it quickly," Turrent said.

"But, remembering why we're doing what we're doing is what we try to push onto everybody so that we're staying motivated and continuing to push forward."

Traditional woodwinds and brass, percussion, flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, contra tubas, snare tenor and bass drums, xylophones, keyboards and pianos make up the melodic sounds of the band, which just reached its largest group in Colon's 14-year history at Ridgeview.

Colón said he's seen lots of new talented faces gravitate toward the program over the years. Inside the safe space, students are able to be themselves and work towards a shared goal — using the tools they've learned to be creative and make music.

He said Ridgeview's band was one of the few to actually thrive during the pandemic. While a lot of schools lost the in-person aspect, their numbers increased, and continue to do so.

"This year is probably the largest that I've had it. On the marching field were about almost 90, but in the classroom it's well over 100," he said.

Turrent plays the alto saxophone and conducts during marching season, while Dunbar plays the tenor saxophone and tuba. And even with it being their last year in the program, both said they plan to carry on the Panthers torch.

Turrent plans to go to Florida State College Jacksonville and study radiology, while Dunbar will study nursing or music education. Music, they said, will remain a constant in their life in some capacity.

In fact, being in the Panther Pride Marching Band has helped them to become better leaders and learn how to turn rejection into success.

"It's a positive environment. When we're at the football game, in the stands, they're having a blast," Colón said. "They're having a good time playing music together. And I feel like that environment of just enjoying, sharing the love of music with each other and wanting to share it with other people."

"I want to continue music for the rest of my life. Music's my life," Dunbar said.

It's a memorable experience that is like no other. The ability to evoke feelings from judges, an audience and whoever is on the field is a gift. It's almost like reading a book, Turrent said. And the next chapter is very bright.

For other students wanting to take the leap, Turrent and Dunbar urge them to not be afraid to try something new.

"You're always going to have a family with your band. And they're going to have fun if they join band," Dunbar said. "I think everybody should at least give it a shot."