CDLune VA

First time I saw their show was at BOA Bedford (Mid-Cities Regional), and they do such a great job. Even though they didn’t cut it for top 12, they still got 1st in their division, so I got to see them again as finals exhibition, and THAT performance almost formed a lump in my throat. I really, really like their show for this year. The visuals are overall very clean, and the music they chose is so powerful and emotionally touching, especially their last couple movements. I bet they’ll do awesome at state.

I won’t be surprised if Cedar Park wins again, but I think it would be cool to see Rouse take 1st place, especially considering that they are more than capable of it. If I’m being completely honest, last year’s state results were quite the upset. Rouse had been one step ahead that entire season, and it looked like they had the state title right at their fingertips. 2023 is probably one of their strongest, if not their strongest year ever for marching band. I haven’t yet seen their show for this year, but I bet it’s fantastic. (Side note: To clarify, I’m not glazing my own band here. I didn’t go to Rouse, or any Leander school for that matter. I’m just a huge marching band nerd.)

I’ve got high hopes for the state bands. After looking at the schedule, I can safely say that state this season is going to be awesome. With the level of competition this year, there are many open windows for surprises. As of now, here are my predictions: 1. Cedar Park 2. Rouse 3. Wakeland 4. Leander 5. Aledo 6. Lone Star 7. Glenn 8. Hendrickson 9. Roma 10. Friendswood 11. Argyle 12. ??? Top 3 might be interchangeable, 4-6 are definitely interchangeable, and 7-12 are as flexible as a rubber band. Also, I just put Glenn on the list with the assumption that they’re good, since they’re a Leander school. I don’t actually know what they’re like since I’ve never seen them before. 12 is a question mark because there’s only 11 bands I can think of that are most likely to make finals. Slot 12 could be taken by anyone, honestly.

My predictions for state: Prediction #1 1. Rouse 2. Wakeland 3. Cedar Park 4. Leander 5. Aledo 6. Hendrickson 7. Forney 8. Burleson Centennial 9. Richland 10. Friendswood 11. Lone Star 12. McKinney North Prediction #2 1. Rouse 2. Cedar Park 3. Leander 4. Wakeland 5. Aledo 6. Forney 7. Burleson Centennial 8. Hendrickson 9. Richland 10. Lone Star 11. Friendswood 12. McKinney North

They’re a lock for finals, that’s for sure. They’re probably gonna win AAA as well. I actually have Rouse in 1st Place for my state predictions. They’ve been on top of most other Leander ISD schools since the beginning of the season, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they place somewhere within the top half of finalists.

I’m sure Cedar Park will place decently. It’s just that being one of the first bands to go isn’t ideal. Even if Cedar’s run is amazing, their show becomes more forgettable if any bands going later blow the judges away.

Man, poor Cedar Park. Even for a band as amazing as them, going first really hurts their chances at a competition like this. It doesn’t look like Hebron is attending BOA SA this year, which is pretty disappointing because I’ve been routing for them pretty much all season. They should compete in BOA Grand Nationals one year. With how much they’ve been climbing up in the ranks, they have a strong chance of winning. I have high hopes for Wakeland this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they make finals. Heck, they might even get 1st in AAA. Speaking of AAA, Aledo has a lot of potential this year, too. With a few bands that would normally be a lock for finals not attending, that leaves a few more of the lower placements up for grabs. I also think Aledo is a possible candidate for Outstanding Music Performance in their class. L.D. Bell stands a fair chance of inching their way into finals as well, which would be nice to see because I’m pretty sure Bell hasn’t made finals at San Antonio since 2019.

General predictions: I’m not so sure if Cedar Park is gonna dominate the competition like they always do. Rouse has been on top of them since the beginning of the season, and Wakeland is the strongest they’ve ever been. My money is on Rouse getting 1st, with Wakeland in a close 2nd, and Cedar Park in 3rd. Also, Aledo is gonna be a major factor this year. Their show is absolutely insane, and their band is massive. Their performing capabilities are strong, and they have a powerful field presence akin to that of a 6A band. I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up as the gatekeeper for top 5 with Leander just above them in 4th, and maybe Hendrickson hot on their tail in 6th. Chances are, Burleson Centennial, Richland, and Forney are gonna be real competitive within that 7th to 9th range, and as for 10th to 12th, I have no idea. There are a lot of great bands with potential this year, and honestly, anyone could slip their way into those last three places. Lone Star is getting back up on their feet, McKinney North is pretty strong this year, too. Heck, even Birdville’s show is impressive. Don’t think I forgot about Friendswood. There’s a lot more room for surprises now that Highland Park and Dripping Springs are out of the equation.