Sunlake High School senior Tessa Sadloski performed with students from nearly 100 high schools during a University of South Florida football halftime show.

Sadloski, a woodwind player from Land O' Lakes, represented Sunlake at USF HOT Day, an annual event where high school musicians rehearse and perform with the university's Herd of Thunder Marching Band during a Bulls football game. Nearly 100 schools participated in the event.

Musicians rehearse alongside USF band

The day followed a structured buildup, The Perch, Sunlake's student newspaper, reported Oct. 1. High school musicians first watched the college band run through its halftime show. The students then split into instrument sections to rehearse music they had received before the event.

Sadloski joined the clarinet section, working alongside musicians from schools she had never met.

"It was really cool to be able to rehearse with all of the clarinet players from different schools," Sadloski told The Perch.

After section rehearsals, the full group reassembled on the field to run through the performance with the USF HOT Band. Together, the combined ensemble played assigned pieces while forming the word "HOT" across the field.

Sadloski said the event helped her gain confidence as a musician and experience what performing at the college level feels like. She called the opportunity memorable, saying she was able to share her passion for music with students from across the state.

The experience gave her a chance to work as part of a much larger ensemble than a single high school band and to perform in a college football atmosphere surrounded by thousands of fans.

USF describes the Herd of Thunder as its marching band and says the program is designed to provide entertainment at athletic events while giving members a musically enriching performance experience.

Sunlake represented in band and color guard

Sadloski was not the only Sunlake senior on the field. Harper Molenaar participated in the color guard portion of the same event.

In a Sept. 23 story, The Perch reported that Molenaar signed up after her band director shared information about the event. She described the day as an opportunity to meet new people and reconnect with Sunlake alumni who had moved on to college programs.

Between Sadloski and Molenaar, Sunlake had students participating in both the band and color guard portions of USF HOT Day.

The event can also serve as an introduction to the college marching-band experience. USF has previously highlighted a Herd of Thunder member who said attending HOT Day as a high school student inspired her to join the university band.