vincentlee1220

Vista Ridge: https://www.facebook.com/vistaridge.band/posts/1225131710847253 DS: https://www.facebook.com/dsbandboosters/posts/764899370300130

DS played mainly Rite of Spring and Dvorak's New World Symphony, Mvt. II (very strange mashup but it wasn't bad)

I believe they switch captions Nope new judges for finals

That just shows anything could happen with judging and the craziness with area being delayed, BOA, and having 5A finals at 11PM. Best of luck to everyone!

LD Bell not in finals is a bit of a stretch. Because they're in Atlanta. And as an alumni, come on, at least put Vista Ridge in the bubble

Link to stream: http://streaming.mrvideoonline.com/

Hey! Alumni from Vista Ridge here. I'll throw out some mess of my thoughts. I'd say one of the major reasons is that our feeder middle schools all have INSANE programs (like add em all up and the middle schools together all have several of each of Midwest, TMEA Honor Band, or WIBC victories). Incoming players from the top bands of those middle schools are already very strong. Having not attended any other school except my own, I can't really attest to the impact of financial support on our program. To me it just feels like extra money just goes to getting us another "oh cool we have this" prop. Much of the money is probably used in a way that I'm unaware of in the background (for our private lesson programs, better equipment, better show designers (!!!!) etc.). I can also say for all four of us that we have insanely dedicated and passionate directors, it's ridiculous. They love us and the program and can and will give nearly everything to help us improve. As for early marching training, we have a week of that for incoming freshmen in the spring, but it's more like a "teaser" than full on visual camp - they learn maybe forward and backward 8 and some preps (maybe box drill if it's a good group). Real band camp starts at the end of July and runs until the school year starts. I really can't name specific things that get you a "successful program" (4-5 years ago, I would not have called Vista Ridge extremely successful ). I think one big part of it is the very fact that we're surrounded by behemoths like CP and Leander and Vandegrift, the thirst for friendly competition between is pretty intense.

Just watched Waxahachie's show for the first time, and it's so similar to Cedar Park 2013 (their closer sounds like abridged cp 2013 opener ), haha No ill intent though, they still look great. Best of luck to all.

Area D looks to be clear (at least later in the morning on into the night) Kinda sucks for the early bands in prelims though :/

For the record, Vista Ridge's percussion has been improving insanely over the last few years They were just a point away from taking the caption at TMC

They can always be viewed on the UILForms website (Uilforms.com)

@justabandkid94 principalagent has articulated exactly what I feel. I don't mean to attack my sister schools, I feel extremely proud whenever anyone compliments ANY Leander ISD school. I'm not passing judgement with regards to execution. High execution is ALWAYS a given in this district. I just state my very personal preferences in show style. I acknowledge my bias towards preferring Vista Ridge and Cedar Park's show styles. I just reread my post and I complimented every single one of them whose show I've watched. What gives? Anyone who's actually been in a Leander ISD band program knows we have very healthy and friendly rivalries with our sister programs. No need to worry. Not to mention that I've already graduated and I'm just spectating from a distance now.

redacted

Vista Ridge Leander - As much as I don't want to admit it, since I'm not really a fan of their show style, they are killing the music and GE departments! Rouse - Haven't seen enough to justify a statement Vista Ridge - I'm closely following along with my younger friends in the program, and it'll be interesting how they handle the upcoming contests mentally. Fingers crossed! I love the visual design more than any previous years, and once it meshes properly with the music it'll be an extremely formidable show Cedar Park - Disregarding my obvious bias towards my alma mater, this is my championship candidate. I love Cedar Park's lush, full sound, amazing woodwinds, and orchestral design, and this year is no different. Vandegrift - Still very refined marching and playing, but the show design doesn't captivate me as much as does Cedar Park and Vista Ridge's, or even Swan Lake in 2013. Lots of simple drill moves (that are still at a high level, don't get me wrong) that don't mesh with the music as well as Orion or What's Opera Doc? do.

I can't make any decisions yet simply because haven't watched many shows but I'll bracket off some bands I think will be in what ranges 1-3: { Bowie, Round Rock, Cedar Park } 4-6: { Vista Ridge, Leander, Vandegrift } (Go LISD!) 7-10: { Dripping Springs, Cedar Ridge, Hendrickson, Westlake } Bubble: { Aledo, Westwood, Pflugerville(?), Anderson(?) }

Noiseless, good angle, no-wind video of Vista Ridge! Rejoice! As an alumni, I am beyond excited for where this is going. Best of luck at State!

There aren't many "new" ways to decide who gets to go to state besides redrawing areas (which is already in progress). It has and always has been the top from Area. BOA contests don't suffer from this issue because there aren't qualifiers for any contests, just a prelim-(semi)finals singular contest. I personally don't see anything wrong with the UIL system, I like it much more than the BOA one. Or rather, I like highly excelling UIL Bands (Cedar Park et. al.) more than highly excelling BOA bands (CTJ et. al.). It's just a personal opinion

<snip> see below for a better sounding and angled one

I just graduated from Vista Ridge HS (from Cedar Park, about 30 minutes north of downtown Austin). Our entire school district treats "band" as a single program, which you have a concert and a marching component of. Barring any medical reason, it's all-or-nothing for our students. I don't think that's such a bad thing, however. You learn teamwork, discipline, and responsibility on the field. You form really special bonds with your friends that just don't happen during concert band. And those things in turn help your excellence during concert band. Different schools do different things, I think some of the Austin ISD high schools have separated halves. However, I would recommend you at least giive marching band a shot, it's life-changing! (Even more so if you have good friends around you along the way)! Put some serious effort into your first season, and I bet you'll be wanting more Happy fourth, and good luck!

Area D 5A 1. Vandegrift 1. Waxahachie 2. Vista Ridge (advancing because there was a tie for first, and it received a majority of 2nd place votes, according to TMEA rules)

To elaborate on Vista Ridge Selections: * Kaval Sviri - Bulgarian Folk Song * Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Orchestra Movement III - Philip Glass * Ara Batur - Sigur Ros / Jonsi Birgisson Drill writer: Richard Hinshaw, of Avon HS fame. Percussion writer: Tom Rarick, of Bluecoats fame. Choreographer: Curtis Uhlemann, of Cadets fame. Music writer: Ryan George, of Boston Crusaders fame.

Ryan George arranged for Leander as well as us (Vista Ridge) this year, he is most definitely one of the best marching music arrangers out there.

Any word on finalists?

A little late but oh well Vista Ridge - Danza de la Rosa: Bolero by Maurice Ravel Spanish Fantasy by Chick Corea Libertango by Astor Piazzolla Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla Danzon No. 2 by Marquez

At Gupton Stadium, adjacent to Vista Ridge HS. Schedule: 2:30 PM - Weimar HS 2:45 PM - Taylor HS 3:00 PM - Liberty Hill HS, 3:15 PM - La Grange HS 3:30 PM - Georgetown HS 3:45 PM - Cedar Park HS BREAK 4:15 PM - Lake Travis HS 4:30 PM - Rouse HS 4:45 PM - McNeil HS 5:00 PM - San Benito HS 5:15 PM - Akins HS 5:30 PM - Vandegrift HS 5:45 PM - Prelims awards DINNER 7:00 PM - Vista Ridge HS (exhibition) 7:15 PM - Finals begins 10:20 PM - Finals awards ceremony