Samuel Culper

Full list, courtesy of TxBands FB feed: Congratulations to all of the band and wind ensembles from the State Of Texas who were selected to perform at The 79th Midwest Clinic in Chicago this December. This invitation is one of the highest and most prestigious honors a performing fine arts organization can receive! Well done, Team Texas!!! UNT Center Woodwind Quintet - Denton North Texas Wind Symphony - Denton Creekview Saxophone Vivaldi Quartet - Carrollton Forney High School Band - Forney South Grand Prairie High School Wind Ensemble - Grand Prairie Vista Ridge High School Wind Ensemble - Cedar Park Plano East High School Symphony Orchestra - Plano Ronald Reagan High School Orchestra - San Antonio Harlingen South High School Jazz Orchestra- Harlingen Elkins High School Percussion Ensemble - Missouri City Frisco Memorial High School Percussion Ensemble - Frisco Little Elm High School Percussion Ensemble - Little Elm Trinity High School Percussion Ensemble - Euless Grisham Middle School Saxophone Ensemble - Austin Canyon Ridge Middle School Honor Band - Austin Kerr Middle School Band - Burleson Leander Middle School Honors Band - Leander Pearland Junior High West Honors Band - Pearland Shadow Ridge Middle School Honor Winds - Flower Mound Central Junior High Orchestra - Euless Youth Jazz Ensemble Caliente - Houston

Hey Vincent - a couple of things to add to your history: 2018 - Reid Atkinson and Zach Santos join staff (asst directors), Dustin Tharp departs 2022 - Kate Thane (now Kate Allen) joins staff, Reid Atkinson departs

Invitations are apparently out and Vista Ridge is going to be there. Who else?

It has been well-known that the aggie band matches with many non-players. You can spot several instruments out there that don't even have mouthpieces.

Tarpon Springs is a unicorn.

Cedar Park and Leander back-to-back is pretty cool.

Yes, those times are Eastern.

There are many, many schools that are considerably wealthier than Vista Ridge who have never won State or don't consistently place in the upper half of Finals in major competitions. Seems curious, huh?

It's a UIL contest, so they will and should use UIL classifications. Full stop. And honestly, the rest sounds a lot like irritation at the really good, consistent bands being really good and consistent.

Could have to do with prepping for the Macy's parade.

Pardon me for a moment... 7 Lakes just melted my face. 🫠

My first time seeing Round Rock this year. LOVED their show!

The marching band alignment to Areas has nothing to do with UIL realignment, other than the classification of the schools to 4A/5A/6A. Area alignments are handled by TMEA.

The word from the directors will always be the first indicator.

Realignment results in a domino effect, so it's a tough process to initiate. The #4 qualifier from J narrowly missed Finals, but still missed. So at least we know the Finalist level bands all advanced to State, which to my mind is the first aim of Area.