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My all time favorite Leander show is 2000. Simply titled, The Music of Rimsky-Kosakov. This was back when Leander styled themselves as the Leander Marching Wind Symphony as someone mentioned above. Dance of the Tumblers Flight of the Bumblebee Capriccio Espangol Scheherazade, Mvts. 3 and 4 The show was Ms. Drinkwater's last year at Leander, I believe. It was light and it was cute and you really could see the foundation for all those little touches and flourishes she'd bring to Marcus later. The color palate incorporated several blue tarps that were cut into different, odd shapes, but it was amazing how the tarps and the odd shapes they made were integrated into the drill. They went on very first in prelims at State that year and finished 3rd in prelims, 6th in finals. I'll never forget it - it remains the finest version of Dance of the Tumblers I've ever heard on the field - the reeded woodwinds during the opening runs of that piece were just perfection. I do very much like what Leander does nowadays, too and I always support them (I live in their attendance zone!). Of the current era, I do think Radioactive is probably the best yet. Though Polarity, Color Study, 4th Dimension, Choral Works - all stunning too.

I’m such an extra proud Texan tonight! Bravo, Team Texas!

Vandy! Just gorgeous!! I still get floored by the brass playing the woodwind runs in Figaro!

Hebron is amazing. Also, their guard is really really good- rifles in the front were on fire!

OMG Leander!!!! I am hoarse from yelling at my TV about how good that was!

Wow, Round Rock! Super run! What a sonorous and controlled ensemble sound and woodwind presence on all those notes is felt throughout. Bravo!

OMG the improv section between the sax and trombone in Just Can’t Wait to Be King - wow! The musicianship this band has is incredible! I loved every minute! Way to wake the place up, CTJ! Team Texas!

Nice to hear Marcus cranking the volume! Loudest they’ve been in years and sounding great! Also special award to the woodwinds who played every single note of those runs in Russlan and Ludmila with glorious clarity!

Absolutely love the switch to the black plumes!

So many good shows this year! Seven Lakes has my favorite! It’s just so weird and wonderful and I love the near constant woodwind color throughout the show - they sound amazing! They also have some amazing props with those blue pyramids. I could just watch it over and over.

I adore that show from Seven Lakes! It’s so quirky and fun! The woodwinds have so many notes and are on fire!

Lake Travis!!! I am blown away! incredible sounds! and super clean!

Exactly this! I adore VR - their talent is through the roof and they are executing at a very high level in all elements. But I just have not connected with it in any of the 3 times I’ve seen it live.

2002: Leander and Cedar Park. Though, in retrospect, it saved them from enduring the Mud Bowl in Waco at state that year. They were both 5A (highest class at the time). This was back when all of ATX was in an area with Region 9 (The Woodlands, Spring ISD, etc.). Leander's show was soooo good - very Russian - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and Russlan and Ludmila by Glinka - fantastic show - very technical woodwind stuff. Cedar Park also had just moved up from 4A and was fresh off their first state title in 2001. Show was Artwork of the Mind and was basically the whole Barber Violin Concerto arranged for marching band. It was signature voluminous, balanced, gorgeous CP sound. And, the oboe solo in the ballad was plaintive and emotional. 4 to state from Area D that year. Spring, TWHS, Bowie, and Westlake. All good and interesting shows, but I honestly would have bumped any of them except TWHS for CP and Leander that year. Leander ended up 9th in a very competitive final at BOA SA and CP went on to take the title at Duncanville, so they ended their seasons nicely.

I wouldn't be surprised if Leander is a little bigger when the numbers come out. There's so many new homes in Travisso, which is all zoned to LHS. We took a drive through there the other night and were blown away at how many new homes are there already + lots available. Plus, Crystal Falls has added several new streets of homes in the last year, as well.

Just saw the video of Leander from finals! Oh my! The 1812 section is glorious! They are giving you everything you could want in those last 2 movements. I can’t imagine how good this will be in 1 months time. Also, love how they moved the last part of the Oppenheimer VO to the end, overlaying that clanging, boisterous ending of the 1812. So effective. Absolutely loved it - the guard is so fab, too!

And also can’t wait to hear about Leander and Vandy tomorrow, as well! Y’all have fun!

Thank you, Cindy! I’ll be away tomorrow but looking forward to your posts! Y’all enjoy, Reagan- they are sooooo amazing this year!

I was really impressed with that latest part that Leander added - a lot of demand on the move and very well executed already. Very excited to hear more of the 1812. It is one of my very favorite pieces. A million years ago, my HS band actually played the whole 1812 my junior year for concert band and then used it again the next year for our marching show.

Y’all this contest was so good! So glad to experience my 1st BOA Houston live. Houston bands are amazing and doing amazing things! Reagan is amazing, y’all! They are giving you everything you could ever want in a marching band. Volume, intensity, technicality. The woodwinds sound warm and full. Bass clarinet feature that had my jaw on the floor. Marching-wise, the velocity and purpose of the performers while playing some incredibly tough music was incredible. Guard features on point and portraying the story so well. Bravo!! So thrilled for Westwood and Westlake to represent ATX so well. Clear Brook - what a story! Love when the Sirens take over!! Pearland - one of the most warm and dark ensemble sounds of the day. Really had some glorious moments in the drill that had me gasping at the difficulty. Also, earlier in the day- Klein Oak has one of the best train shows I’ve ever seen and Tompkins was surprise of the day for me! Was not expecting that level of character and passion and intensity. I was blown away. Also I demand a recount on Seven Lakes haha! Seriously, I thought this year’s show was light years ahead of DYEvergent and I loved that one, too. Keep going, y’all!! 3rd in ensemble music means you are very much on the correct path! Can’t wait for San Antonio and hope that this rollercoaster of the unexpected keeps going!

Wow, go Westwood!!! Also SHOCKED about Seven Lakes! They were in my top 5

I’m sure I’m dead wrong, but here’s my 10: Reagan Seven Lakes Westlake Pearland Westwood Klein Oak The Woodlands Taylor Clear Brook Tompkins

Reagan was incredible live!! sounds amazing - impeccable marching! Way more demand on the move than last year- a resounding yes!

Seven Lakes!!! Wow!! that was incredible! Intense and fast and weird and wonderful!

Tompkins - that was a fun ride!