principalagent

So after looking for results, I've only found that Region 12 (Northeast San Antonio) has 4 bands that received ones. Region 26 (North Austin suburbs) had 11 bands go today, and Region 18 (Austin proper and South Austin suburbs) have 12 on Tuesday. Region 8 (North and East Central Texas) had 4 bands today. I can't find region 26 and 8 results, but I would suppose they pushed about 9 bands through today for a total of about 13 now. There are certainly at least five bands who should get a 1 in Region 18, and a couple more who could as well, so hitting 20 may happen. I believe and hope that 4 will likely be the magic number for Area D, but there seems to be a chance that it might only be 3. Area D may be a dog fight in finals.

SFA has tons of Grand Nationals as well as regional accolades, and was probably the strongest and most consistent ensemble in the southern half of the Houston metroplex throughout 2000-2010. Cedar Park's director is also from Houston, which may or may not have inspired a switch. Also, sometimes assistant directors just want to be head directors, and this program is a wonderful opportunity for someone to take over.

Cedar Park embodies general effect before numerous, intricate props and theatrical story lines became mixed into what GE is today. They take a hard visual book and a hard music book, and play and march the snot out of them, which maximizes their show's potential. Interestingly enough, the "worst" Cedar Park has done since 2008 in BOA San Antonio finals is when they attempted a considerably more "BOA friendly" show for Grand Nationals. If Cedar Park fills any specific niche for marching band, it's certainly as the band who still sticks to strong marching and powerful playing, which I think shows great effect on its own.

LISD also refers to the Leander ISD Schools in Northwest Austin - Leander, Cedar Park, Vista Ridge, Rouse and Vandegrift - which is a powerhouse district for marching band as well, including four state finalists, a state champion, and two Grand Nationals finalists. All of these bands are 4A and in Area D. When speaking about 5A, it's safe to assume that Area B's LISD is up for discussion, but in 4A, Area D's LISD is more likely to be the subject of conversation.

Looks as if Lake Travis and Hays dropped and Leander joined.

Even though Bowie did score 9th in overall music, their ensemble score (which is generally what anyone in the stands hears) ranked 5th, after CTJ who always plays tough licks at a high level, and three LISD bands who are known for playing strong music very well. Even if it's a bit low for Bowie, they still did just fine. It's just how the game goes sometimes. There are bands that have won 3A (now 4A) captions and missed finals before, as well at least one band that has won Grand Nationals without winning a single caption. I really wouldn't read much into a "low" caption score in this point in the season, and I certainly wouldn't suggest rain caused the judges to be flexible about anything.

The full recap is posted now: http://www.musicforall.org/images/stories/pdf/Fall/2013/Recaps/2013.09.28_Austin_TX_Prelims.pdf

Actually Westlake is in Eanes ISD all by itself sandwiched between Leander and Austin ISD

BOA results for bands also seem to grow positively and linearly throughout a season, so seeing them drop 5 points or so over two weeks was an unexpected result I'm sure. I agree that the competition at this regional was tougher, but I still expected a finals placement out of them.

Gupton Stadium outside Vista Ridge HS is a bit better on the parking front than Bible Stadium is but is arguably worse when it comes to warm up spaces. During 4A Area last year you could hear other bands warming up. If they were to use one, it would have to be between both of the big LISD stadiums and the Palace. However they would have to be extremely strict on the number of bands that could attend considering the logistics of all of the locations.

Actually, I've never known our program to do the wave at any competition we've attended. It's something that started before I entered the program and was instilled by past directors. However, like you said, our program definitely had/has fun regardless!

This is extremely unfair to both programs that "will always make finals" and those who work hard for the chance to advance and cheapens the experience that both groups of programs have in competitions like these. SFA in Sugar Land should be all of the evidence you need to see that this is by no means true. Before they stopped going to Area, they consistently advanced out of Area E. This year, they didn't even get barely left out. What needs to be seen is that those programs have a standard of excellence that is consistent and won't go away in the near future provided everything at those programs stays consistent. LD Bell is having a tough year, but they're still doing great things with a hard package and performing the heck out of their show, which explains their advancing to state again. I was at Area D all day. Just like everyone else, I was shocked that Round Rock didn't make it in as I thought they were a lock for next Tuesday, but things like this happen all the time. I trust that the judges with all of their experience understand marching band on a deeper level than I do after being a member for four years and a spectator for two and can notice and appreciate and nitpick things on a considerably more granular level. All 10 bands who advanced to finals had spectacular performances in both shows and deserved their positions. Life will go on for members of their program, and they'll do very well on Saturday, I'm sure. However, to say that judges are playing politics and favorites with elite bands is unfair to all bands who competed.

Anderson's prelims performance was well done, but lacked the energy it took to make finals in such a tough area. Cedar Ridge was also very strong in finals and they very likely could have advanced out of some areas. They really turned it on in finals and jumping two places in finals into an alternate spot in one of the toughest areas in their third year of existence and after 9th place in 4A Area D last year is not a bad accomplishment whatsoever. Bowie was very much so in a class of their own. Reagan's finals performance was considerably more clean than their prelims, which at times I thought would keep them out. Johnson is tackling tough music and a tough visual package and handling it extraordinarily. Westlake's show was both fun and impeccably clean. All four bands should have a great chance at state finals. Props to Hendrickson and Lake Travis for successfully making the jump from 4A to 5A for the first time each! Especially with Hendrickson's miss of state last year for the first time in how long? It was an awesome day in Round Rock for sure! Tons of great bands and Area D will be very well represented at state.

Area D seems to announce in rank order. Last year, that's how it ended up working out, and considering the prelims rankigngs and watching the finals performances, it was probably the same as well.

Well there is Mid-States, which pulls from Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, but it works as a circuit with voluntary participation much like BOA rather than a formal, near-mandatory academic contest system like UIL. And it's all centered around Southern Ohio for the most part, which is considerably smaller than Texas. It's fairly safe to say that no state has a sanctioned marching contest with the travel demands that Texas and UIL do that make it as difficult.

There's 39 total. Only 34 qualified to this weekend's competition. I attended Region 18's contest last night. Bowie was on another level than the rest of the 5A bands. Westlake and Anderson were both impeccably clean and should do well both this Saturday, at BOA San Antonio, and hopefully at the SMBC. Hendrickson was also very strong and could sneak into one of the qualifying spots and BOA finals next weekend.

Region 18: Anderson: 1 Akins: 1 Hendrickson: 1 San Marcos: 2 Austin: 1 Del Valle: 2 Westlake: 1 Pflugerville: 1 Bowie:1 If you're keeping count, that's only 34 for Area D.

I'm also not too sure why Anderson is being underestimated here as well. I would think that their performances this weekend would solidify them as a near-lock to State and a contender for finals even. Although Area D is slightly more stacked than it was in 2010, I don't see them missing out at all. At this point, I see Anderson and Westlake advancing out of Area D over the additions from 4A, with Cedar Ridge having the best chance of breaking through or grabbing the seventh spot.

I got a chance to catch Westlake at the Vista Ridge competition and they're definitely in the conversation for advancing to the State Marching Contest. However, with the talent that's getting exceptionally stronger throughout the state, I'd say finals will be a bit harder for the Chaparrals. I think they could potentially make some noise again at BOA San Antonio though. Their show is very well-played with strong effect in a way reminiscent of their 2008 show which took them to finals twice in San Antonio that year.