Superior rating, the highest rating a group can receive from the California Music Educators Association. In addition, the band was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall and Chicago Symphony Hall due to their performance at the 2009 Los Angeles Heritage Festival, where they had placed first in the Symphonic Band category. In April 2011, the band received its second Unanimous Superior rating from CMEA. The Branham High School Royal Alliance Marching Band and Color Guard is known for award winning performances and had an undefeated season in the fall of 2020 with their show “It’s About Time”. The Branham Jazz Ensemble gives nearly a dozen public performances per year and travels to the Columbia Jazz Festival. The Jazz Ensemble hosts a yearly fundraiser called the Jazz Cafe to raise funds for the Branham Instrumental Program. As of March 2022, the director of the band program is Christopher Nalls, while the director of the choir program is Barbara West. Theater Department The department earned the 2001 Glenn Hoffman Award for Outstanding Fine Arts Curriculum. In 2003, the program earned the 2003 High School Musical Honors Award for Outstanding Ensemble. The department currently offers a full theater curriculum including a musical theater course, a drama club, and several productions each year. Its annual faculty musical is directed by students and supervised by the acting instructor. Career Technical Education (CTE) Courses The Career Technical Education courses offered at Branham currently include Culinary Arts, Journalism, Yearbook, and PLTW (Project Lead the Way). The journalism class is known for its award-winning newspaper, the Bear Witness, which has been named a National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker winner in 2018, 2019 and 2020. It has earned second place in Social Media reporting in 2020 and 2021. Notable alumni Robertson Daniel (Class of 2010) - Former American football cornerback for the Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Washington Football Team, and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Currently a member of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. Played collegiately at Brigham Young University. Pat Hughes (Class of 1973) - Radio play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs of the Major League Baseball (MLB). Marty Krulee (Class of 1974) - Sprinter and track-and-field athlete. Gary Radnich (Class of 1969) - Sports anchor for KRON-TV, San Francisco. Former basketball player at Brigham Young University, later transferring to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Louie Sakoda (Class of 2005)