BlueCircle

Keller...wow...what an incredibly difficult and nuanced show. Like last year, I think they be safely in finals. I love all the changes they keep making right till the end. The closer is still maybe my favorite moment of the year so far though it seems the audio was a bit weird. Easily the most demanding show of the day! The winds don’t stop playing throughout!

JBA...hmmm...they gave a fine performance but once the tarp comes out, the show becomes very very messy from an execution and design standpoint. There is just way too much going on! That requiem section was so good though!!!

I really like Cedar Ridge! Especially those drums behind the pit. It’s too early to tell if they are at the finalist level but I wouldn’t count them out!

I think I’m in the minority because I don’t mind the narration. It adds a bit of quirkinesses to an otherwise very sophisticated yet somewhat unemotional show. The narration is almost so bad that’s it’s good in a way. I just love when great talent and execution is coupled with something weird in the marching arts! I love love love a quirky show.

Hoping for more than 14 finalists here...maybe we can get a 5-way tie for 14th place

I know you’re not asking me, but I know you are associated with Westwood. Honestly, at this competition, the only statement that matters is the prelims performance. Don’t worry about placements or making finals. Focus on having the best prelims performance you can, and the results will take care of themselves.

Disclaimer: Predicting this competition is impossible. But why not try. 2nd Disclaimer: Most bands’ seasons will end in prelims (obviously). There are also many bands who could make finals at any other BOA competition that will be left out here. I think everyone’s main goal should be to appreciate the art on the field. Marching band is subjective, after all. 1. Ronald Reagan - Everyone else’s favorite to win. Mine too. In my opinion, they have nearly perfected everything from the Loop formula that worked so well last season. Their huge lead at Houston and TMC is something we haven’t seen from them recently. They will obviously be completely maxing out here. Reagan might just break the FloMo & CTJ winning streak. And then gets to march in the Macy’s Parade!!! 2. Flower Mound - There’s not much to say about this program. In general, they are the best band in Texas. With a huge lead over Hebron at DFW and a stunning UIL region performance, a medal seems very likely. FloMo will surely bring the mojo with their final two performances of this season. 3. Vandegrift - People severely underestimate the amount of GE that Vandy brings on a non-state year. Their Austin almost-sweep was obviously well deserved and I think their momentum will hopefully carry far this season. Will likely give a near-spotless performance; a cleanliness that rivals FloMo and Marcus. All around their best show ever. 4. Hebron - It’s a little concerning to hear that their show was unfinished at DMI, especially since weather will be interrupting rehearsals this week. Nonetheless, their music performance will probably be the best even if their show still needs time to be fully realized. 5. CTJ - A bit of a wild card after a quiet season. Although they frequently fluctuate in the top 5, their top 5 consistency is extremely admirable. Like Hebron, this show might need significantly more time. Trying to recreate magic is HARD but not impossible. Would not be surprising to see them pull a 2017 and take this whole thing. 6. Leander - Probably a strong lock for top half. Definitely not a 2017 year for them !!! Surely the most “fun” show we’ll see in finals! Took visual from Vandy @ Austin and almost took music. Easily could move up a few places but the field is so stacked! 7. TWHS - If clean, this show could be a monster in GE. Haven’t placed top half here since 2016 and generally isn’t super consistent. I am absolutely ecstatic to see them switch it up this year because they honestly became somewhat stale after last season. They might have my favorite show of the year. 8. Vista Ridge - Vista Ridge is here to stay. Ditching their 6A championship design team was a bold and brave move! They certainly turned the tables on us ! Jokes aside, their edgy soprano solo heavy show is a unique display of excellence and perseverance. 9. Marcus - In one word, Marcus is Undeniable. Excluding 2017, this storybook show design and theming is probably their strongest (at least my favorite) in a long time. The fact that they didn’t miss a beat despite major staff changes is a testament to the most respectable Texas program ever. 10. Keller - Keller might be the single most consistent Texas band of the past few years. Last time they missed finals at a competition was all the way back in 2014. Dangerously close to top half (in prelims) last year and has placed 9th with a +1 point lead over 10th for the past two years. I would not be entirely shocked to see them push into the top half for the first time ever with that stellar closer. I have a very difficult time placing them out of finals, let alone the top 10. 11. Westlake - Still severely underrated. Watch out. 12. James Bowie - Should’ve been in finals last year imo. After “meh” results at Austin and TMC, they stunned with a big lead at Waco. However, one good result isn’t nearly enough for me to move them into the top 10. Their finals chance is looking very very strong. 13. Cedar Ridge - Quiet season so far but don’t worry about them. Consistent finalist with a recent top 10 finish (which could very well be retained). Might get passed by bands with more grand visual products but who knows. They are so used to setting the standard for finals. Expect a very energetic prelims performance from them! 14. Cedar Park/LD Bell - both of these shows have similar identities to me. Both are better offerings compared to last year. Great ensemble moments in each but hardly any exposed playing making both feel one-note to me. Also, both shows have stronger possibilities to peak earlier in the season. Also, CP has the most perfect state show it’s nuts. Bell’s performance time and returning finalist status has me slightly preferring them. Dark Horse - Westwood - a unique and playful music and GE package. The drill design and difficulty is honestly underwhelming at best but there is something absolutely special about this show and how it reminds me of Lost and Found in that sense that it may not become an apparent threat until the very end. Won’t finish 4th like Vista did but a finals appearance would be 100% deserved.

This contest had many VERY respected judges and members of the marching community. Your comment is blatantly disrespectful.

There are videos of Round Rock and FloMo from region. I love the 2nd part of RR’s show and I can’t get it out of my head! Also, I adore the part in FloMo’s show where a gorgeous english horn solo is accompanied by gorgeous flag work and cool woodwind choreography.

Keller Trombone Octet for reference. Pretty dang good for it being in the 50s that morning. https://youtu.be/aXd7A8HTmJk.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjVXeBPqcHtSINWhqyFO_mg I just stumbled across this channel and though it was so cool and fascinating! They only have stuff from Rouse and Keller but it’s still super cool in my opinion! Edit: I’ve only seen stuff like this for DCI or the rare Flo Marching warmup videos they used to do a few years ago. It’s interesting that they got Rouse and Keller as they are from totally different areas. Hopefully they’ll be able to create more content at San Antonio but I don’t know what the rules are for that.

Congrats Cedar Park!!! I don’t see the 5A state champion changing any time soon

I absolutely love Marcus’ show this year, but I still feel that it’s pretty obvious that Marcus does not have the most difficult music or drill, and that’s not a bad thing at all. Marcus has the cleanest music and drill, regardless of difficulty, which is what is rewarded at this competition. Hebron swept captions in prelims here and beat Marcus in both rounds of BOA DFW competition. I know a lot can change throughout the season but it is a little silly not to recognize how well Marcus’ style meshes with this judging system, especially when these results are drastically different than BOA. Difficulty does not equal success. Cleanliness equals success and Marcus is a the MASTER of cleanliness. Calling something easy compared to Hebron is not a diss at all. Pretty much any band is “easy” compared to Hebron. I agree that my choice of using the word “easy” was not correct. I sincerely apologize for my poor choice of words. In reality Marcus’ show is extremely difficult in the grand scheme of high school marching band. It’s just that Hebron is attempting the most difficult musical book probably ever. I just want to reiterate how much I LOVE the Marcus band and didn’t mean to slight their amazing performance. I was just wanted to point out the differences in this scoring system compared to BOA as to explain why some bands do better at different competitions. Marcus 100% deserved this win here. I can’t wait to see Marcus in BOA San Antonio finals this year. They are a unique gem in the Texas band world <3

Not extremely surprised to see Marcus sweep this one...they basically give these judges everything they want: a clean easy (compared to Hebron & Keller) show. Now, I would be completely shocked if San Antonio played out like this.

Blue Springs!!! What a way to end finals and what a way to end their BOA season! This show REALLY grew on me and I’m in awe of how masterful the design is and how near perfect the execution was. Loved it top to bottom! I think the top 3 here should have a substantial lead over the rest of the field and hopefully Blue Springs comes especially close to Carmel. Actually, BS was so clean compared to Carmel’s dirty run...I want to see BS in 2nd. Great way to end their season nonetheless.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Keller Marcus “rivalry” plays out here. I think the more UIL sheets will favor Marcus over Keller here, but in San Antonio, it’s anyone’s game.

Very ambitious program from Lockport Township. I definitely see why they made the top half here!

Homestead going after Avon is pretty revealing. Homestead has an ambitious show and just needs to take advantage of the next three weeks for cleaning. Rough performance it seems, or maybe Avon was THAT good. The ending of the ballad and the soprano sax solo was pretty magical.

The moment in Avons show between and ballad and the closer gives me the smallest bit of hope that a Texas band can take home the Eagle. Not impossible to beat, but realistically it will be very very challenging.

Lincoln-Way has some awesome moments but I don’t see them staying as 3rd in AAAA. The gimmick is cool I guess, but the show is pretty standard to me. Still a very worthy finalist. Great flute soloist!

Carmel’s guard KILLED IT with that run, but it seemed like a somewhat rough run from the winds. I quite like this show, it’s pretty great. But “pretty great” doesn’t cut it for a band that has seniors who don’t know what it’s like not to win Nats.

Definitely heard a tear. Their field coverage and amount of performers is insane.

I think the most noticeable thing about watching this regional is how good these non-Texas color guards are! I think the 8 hour rule places huge limitations on guard and basically any visual aspect of the production.

Center Grove color guard is insane!!!

Brownsburg! I loved the closer especially that cool sax feature. Also, their drill was nice and clean to my untrained eyes.