crossblue82

I'll guess Leander/CP/Vandy in top 3, but order could go any way... 4th rep from Area D (Dripping Springs or Vista Ridge) and Wakeland as probably 4th in 5th in some order. 6-10 I'd have to do more researching and video watching. Lots of improvement there but not sure it's medal worthy just yet. Aledo maybe in that 6-10 range.

Actually, it was 1996. I'd know because I was a part of it.

I think the McAllen regional serves as the SA regular regional you speak of. It allows SA area bands something else to go to besides the Super. Pretty straight forward how most BOA Texas bands will go to their closest big city regional and most all will go to the Super in SA. This way SA bands are not having to go to Houston or Dallas just to get to another regional. Austin, although a young regional is certainly one of the most competitive. McAllen not as much but can pick up 2-3 good SA bands, and some SA bands will opt to go to Austin instead.

Would've loved to have gone but just didn't as I was tired this evening. Anybody went that cards to share their opinions? Would love to know.

I think Leander's show may be different due to being a UIL year, but it was going to be hard to follow up Color Study. It'll still be a great show and they have to be a state favorite for 5A. I can't even wait to see what they throw out next year though since they are going back to Nationals in 2016. I was part of the group that got 11th in 1999. We sweated finals, I believe they will be a lock for top 5-6 and can challenge for maybe even top 3 if it all comes together for them next year and they keep it up. Great staff, an amazing guard and an amazing GE designer along with tremendous morale and momentum in the program are helping them soar right now.

Here's how I've always kind of liked to think of it, and I think this is what kind of addresses that GE issue. I'm not saying it's inherently scored this way, or that that's what adjudicators are thinking, but I like to think that UIL finds the best band, and BOA finds the best show... Now, before I finish, I realize a lot of time this could be the same group... I just feel like the quality of the performance and not just elements of the performance itself is what makes UIL different, you're getting credit for nothing unless it's done well. Another way to think of it is if every band marched the same show I feel like the best band to match the same show would be the UIL champ, whereas the BOA champ ( and by no means am I saying it isn't deserved ) may be the best overall performance. I hope that makes as much sense to others as it does to me. It also doesn't mean having a more difficult show can't help, as I feel if you nail the music and visual you will be rewarded for it. I don't even necessarily have a preference and I see the merits of both and respect both scoring systems. You must be clean to win a state title though. If your GE is off the charts you don't have to be absolutely pristine to take down a regional. To serve as an example Marcus just doesn't give me that total wow factor where I just want to get to my feet at the end but I have no doubt that if they wanted to they could, case in point all there state championships. CTJ did have the best GE presentation last year I feel, Leander right there though (Leander homer here), but I didn't think they were particularly clean, but it was also a very demanding show. BOA is more forgiving whereas UIL is like play well, March well but your show in of itself I don't feel is overly important. A BOA winning show is never boring, a UIL can be. Both deserved though in their own right.

I can't wait to see Leander. Of course I'm biased here, but it has all the makings of another tremendous show after being the surging story of last year. "Choral Works" basically has a double meaning here. There will be choir incorporated somehow into this thing... and the coral art of Matisse will be on display somehow. I also am pretty sure there will be electronics as part of it as the music of Son Lux. Opener sounds like "Lost it to Trying" arranged for this performance. It is going to be an incredible opening statement. If I'm getting a feel for this thing early it could be a monster in all captions. I think it will play well to UIL as well as I feel Leander may be the favorite to win 5A at this point carrying on last year's success. Would not be surprised at all to see LISD sweep the medals again like in 2013. Some other bands will have to step it up to prevent that from happening.

Despite the amazing GE and the great musicality off Symphonic Metamorphosis, I thought they looked less than clean at times visually on the individual level. Maybe the feed just seemed to hit on these things often and perhaps the judges didn't notice so much. Just my observations. Fantastic show though and well thought out. I too question the uniforms though. Be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

Knox, Leander is certainly not a newcomer, unless you mean it more in the context of being in the elite recently. They have a proud BOA history including a regional championship and a Grand Nationals finals performance. They did however fall off the big radar for a few years but have made great strides, and really stepped it up this year, to get back in the discussion of the best bands in the state. I think they got new visual people they love right now, strong musically and have one of the best guards in the state. That guard has really helped propel them as well. They're not going away soon, they have tons of momentum, growing numbers and I'm close to the program and know they have a great group of kids, attitude and talent right now. They really believe in the product they are putting on the field right now and it shows. Even though people know Leander, they are by far the 'most improved' or 'where did they come from' group this year. I'm hopeful for a top 5 finish, maybe more, and a chance to fight for visual and GE captions overall. Call me selfish but they can easily sweep 3A captions and win 3A convincingly at SA. They really are a step above Cedar Park and Vandegrift this year. Gotta love LISD.