WILKINSON

Hey Mom2BandKid, do you know where I can find the schools participating for other Areas.

Any insight or predictions on how the Areas for 4A will be like this year? Who's looking hot this year and who might surprise?

Wow! No Grulla HS in that top 10 list! That's an eyebrow-raiser. Grulla HS got 4th place in the TMEA State Honor Band competition this summer. They also got 4th place at the State Marching Band Contest in 2014, and 14th in 2012. Hidalgo HS, on the other hand, their rival school, didn't make finals at the 2014 Area Marching contest. For the record: I am not affiliated with Grulla HS or any Valley band for that matter. Just stating some facts. My children march for Cedar Park High School. I'm just very surprised and proud of Grulla's successes in the very short amount of time that they've been around.

I think it's great that Bands of America decided to make an installment down south for the RGV schools. There is definitely plenty of talented schools down there. For Grand Champions, I'm thinking James Bowie should be able to take that title, and with almost no competition. The rest, we'll have to wait and see. Here's my Finalists Prediction: 1. James Bowie H.S., Austin 2. Judson H.S., Converse 3. Harlingen H.S., Harlingen 4. Lake Travis H.S., Austin 5. Grulla H.S., Rio Grande City 6. Hanna H.S., Brownsville 7. Lopez H.S., Brownsville 8. Roma H.S., Roma 9. Harlingen South H.S., Harlingen 10. Hidalgo H.S., Hidalgo Bands that could be in the mix: Palmview H.S., La Joya Edinburg North H.S., Edinburg Pioneer H.S., Sharyland Vela H.S., Edinburg

The original plan was, I believe to advance 7 from each site. But, there was a caveat that, because the split format was new, the final number advancing to finals was TBD after consulting with the state governing board. Evidently, 10 from each site was the number finally decided. It seems a bit excessive, but then so was a contest that started at 0700 Saturday and ran til 0130 Sunday morning. Two years ago, Northside Tom C. Clark stepped off at 0015 Sunday morning!

Adjudicators for Area E are: Music 1: Charles Aguillon, Austin Music 2: Rustin Honeycutt, Troy Music 3: John Stuckey, Friendswood Marching 1: Jim Blacksher, Montgomery Marching 2: Dan Huck, Sweetwater Music 1 judging musical in both Prelims & Finals. Music 2 & 3 will switch with Marching 1 & 2 for Finals.

Yeah, I received the Contest Packet on email today. 20 bands at Finals, seems like any other regular Area preliminary contest.

There will be 6 bands advancing from Area E to the State Marching Contest. This should be interesting. Some very great programs in this Area, some coming back stronger than ever and others looking for redemption. Finals should be interesting. Grulla, Fredericksburg, Pearsall and Port Isabel look to be promising, very competitive and seem like top tier programs this year in my opinion. At least to what I've witnessed. Boerne, Kingsville, Rio Hondo, Hidalgo, Crystal City, Stafford, La Vernia & Carrizo Springs are also some good programs that I've seen during contests.

I have yet to see Argyle's band performance this year. Anyone care to give some insight on it? I'm sure it's excellent though, or so their contest results prove. Though, bands that I have seen and I genuinely think that will cause some great commotion this year are Wills Point, Princeton, Grulla, Anna, Melissa and North Lamar. Their shows are very well executed and the marching + music is excellently clean. I have not seen Canton, Kennedale Burnet, Fredericksburg so far but I'm sure they're going to be in the hunt yet again. Atlanta's show is great as well. Rio Hondo/Hidalgo/Port Isabel look good.

The top 5 scoring bands from each site advance to the Finals portion of the contest, right? If so then I have San Antonio Taft, Laredo Alexander, San Benito, Harlingen South, PSJA North from the Gustafon stadium site, and San Antonio O'Connor, Edinburg North, Laredo United South, Harlingen and Brownsville Lopez advancing from Farris. In MY opinion, I think that the Farris site is going to be a little bit more stiffer in competition. Brownsville Hanna, San Antonio Clark, Laredo United are some other programs that I think would have a shot at making Finals but it would be hard because as far as I know they will take the Top 5 scoring bands, hence why I think that this site is tougher than Gustafon. Anyway, as far as who I think would be advancing to the State Marching Contest, I really have no idea yet. I guess I'll just have to wait and see! It's going to be such a great contest. Good luck to all bands participating!

Hey folks! Hope everything is good with everyone. So, we're basically at the peak of the marching band season and I thought that we could maybe discuss a little about how you all think Area/State will look like this season. Of course, you can say that it's still a lil too early to make those type of predictions but there's been contests to give us enough insight and resource as to where we think bands are at this point. What programs do you all think are Area Finals/State qualifying contenders? Who has impressed you so far? Will there be any new faces, any up-and-comings or will the typical reigning programs do it again? I'm eager as to what you all have to say. Please keep it classy, thank you.

I strongly believe that Grulla, Port Isabel, Rio Hondo, Kingsville H.M. King & Fredericksburg will advance To State!