A student band poses ahead of performing at Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts’ Battle of the Bands fundraiser March 20 at the Tri-Counties Community Center in Marysville. The event supports the school’s advanced guitar program and provides performance experience for student musicians.

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Student musicians took the stage March 20 at the Tri-Counties Community Center in Marysville for Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts’ second annual Battle of the Bands, a growing event that is helping fund the school’s advanced guitar program while giving young performers real-world experience.

The event, organized through MCAA’s music program, featured four bands and two solo performers competing with both original and cover songs in front of a panel of local judges and a supportive audience of peers, families and community members.

Advanced guitar teacher Yuko McWhorter said the event grew out of a desire to create more opportunities for students while also addressing the program’s needs.

“We really needed amplifiers and equipment, so this is a fundraiser event for the advanced guitar program,” McWhorter said.

McWhorter, who also launched the school’s after-school rock band program, said the number of student bands has grown significantly in recent years.

“I wanted to have something fun for the students, so I started an after-school rock band program where anyone who wanted to play and form a band could practice after school,” she said. “At first we only had a couple of bands, but now we have about eight or nine bands in the class.”

That growth has translated directly into events like Battle of the Bands, which now serves as both a showcase and a stepping stone for young musicians. One of those groups, Gas Station Chicken, has emerged as a standout. The band, composed of Meric Slack, Evan Dao and Felipe Benites, formed in 2024 through McWhorter’s after-school program and returned to defend its title after winning the inaugural competition last year, taking home the top spot again this year.

“We’re really looking forward to playing ‘Love and Animosity.’ It’s one of our favorites and is an original by Felipe,” Slack said.

Members of Gas Station Chicken pose during Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts’ Battle of the Bands fundraiser March 20 at the Tri-Counties Community Center in Marysville. The student band, formed through the school’s after-school music program, took first place for the second consecutive year.

Since forming, the group has performed more than 25 shows, including appearances at the Yuba-Sutter Fair and the Marysville Taco Festivals. They have also become regular performers at Woodstock’s Pizza in Chico and are currently competing in Skip’s Music open mic Battle of the Bands, where they have already advanced past the first round. Meredith Slack, a parent of one of the band’s members, said the group’s success traces back to its beginnings in the classroom.

“They started in the after-school program a couple of years ago, coming together in Yuko McWhorter’s classroom,” Slack said. “That was really the launching point, and they just took it and ran with it.”

The competition itself raised $428, similar to last year’s event. Zachary Zumstein, an intro to guitar teacher at MCAA and one of the event’s judges, said performances were evaluated on both technical skill and stage presence.

“I’m looking at musicianship, vocal ability and overall playing ability, but also showmanship and stage presence,” Zumstein said. “As an arts school, we’re looking for more than just students who can play their instruments. It’s all those extra details that really make a great performance.”

Students also played a role behind the scenes, helping organize and run the event. Rayanna Stoudt, a student organizer who performed in last year’s competition, said the smaller, supportive setting helps performers build confidence.

“I like that it gives students a chance to perform in front of people they know, so they can build confidence without feeling overwhelmed,” Stoudt said.

As the program continues to grow, McWhorter said she looks forward to more events like Battle of the Bands and helping showcase her students’ talents.