skill

Area D has amazing bands! I was so impressed with all the bands up in Round Rock, but on the flip side, the bands that literally lock a spot every time has made it really hard for an up and coming competing band to work itself into the mix. I understand that there are only so many regions, but this is a huge state with some huge cities and it just seems as if some regions aren't quite as fairly divided. This is just my opinion.

Congrats to all the bands that competed at the BOA in San Antonio. Everyone was really great. The shows were amazing, and entertaining, stunning to say the least. To the finals bands, other than WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! would probably not be enough. They were so incredible. I don't know how one can judge, but they did a great job. I was very happy to see our band back up into the top 10. I am standing up and clapping to all!

But in all seriousness to these great bands out there I do have a question. How many middle schools/jr highs feed into the HUGE programs such as Bell, Marcus, and Bowie. We have one middle school that feeds 100% and two middle schools that do about a 30-70 split with two other high schools, us getting the 30.

I personally enjoy watching Bell, Marcus, and Bowie's shows. Sorry for those that I missed but I really do LOVE seeing their shows. I think they are huge, fun, and well done. But if you want to talk about other bands (and how badly you seem to hate all of them) why don't you start another thread where you can bash all the bands you want, while those of us that enjoy the music good or bad, can discuss it with some more positive comments.

I know that and you know that. It is just that MrWoods69 is just attacking the WC program, and I was just pointing out how well the program was doing while it is still in the change, rebuilding, very young aspect of the program.

I can see by your negativity, and lack of any information on your profile as to which school you are supporting, that you are hiding behind the internet. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that you are a supporter of the previous director, and not of the director now. You are just being a harsh individual that lacks the knowledge, of change. I have never seen anyone attack a single school the way you have. Churchill is doing quite well. 7th in prelims at Houston, and 10th at finals just because the show wasn't finished. I don't see that as the program getting worse. Straight I's at UIL. Looks like a winning program to me. Just keep hating the program. It only serves to make it stronger.

I am guessing that no other schools have to face things like money moving away into other schools. Churchill has a great program. If anyone cares to question that, then I invite them to come on down to watch these kids practice. Churchill no longer has parents with unlimited resources to work with. This program is rebuilding itself and is definitely getting stronger. This school has a long standing tradition of excellence. As a parent of this program I support those that lead it. Criticizing the directors most certainly isn't very productive. How about look at the average age of the Churchill band. Just shy of half the bands are freshman. Can any other band say that they can compete this well with such young kids? I don't think so especially with bands like Bell that don't have a freshman class, and prefer the older more experienced kids on the field. The program isn't getting worse, it is just changing, and with change comes some difficulties, but we prefer not to complain, we prefer to overcome. And your statement is quite offensive. And truth is in the eye of the beholder. Once a Charger, always a Charger! Go Churchill Band!

How in the world can you take not making state, a determining factor for not being a lock. Every year is a new year. Every season is a different show with different music and different kids. Don't be so harsh.

Getting very excited to see all the new shows this year. The BOA competitions look like they are going to have some incredible competition!

They look great!!! Good luck with the sorting, the hanging, the numbering, the issuing, the hemming, the etc, etc, etc!

Well said!

This doesn't surprise me in the least. I worked the entire weekend at San Antonio BOA and it was almost funny to see the L.D. Bell kids coming out complaining that yet again they were beaten by Marcus, and then this trash of bashing Marcus has started here. Which I think is awful! Personally (remember this is my opinion) I saw all 14 finalist shows and they were ALL great. But I did score most of the bands in the order they placed. I did not think that Bell's show this year had near the impact they had hoped for. The grave markers for me were too much and lacked in taste. Their music was well played and their marching wasn't nearly as clean as it has been in years past. Marcus, the show was great, got your attention, kept it, and they stayed VERY clean. I know that these posts are supposed to be opinions, but the trash talking is wrong! Bands win some, and bands lose some. Look forward to the next competition and don't make yourself look bad by starting a post that is in poor taste.

I bet they would be a top band. Their performance in SA was great! Loved their whole package, marching, music, ridiculously huge chandeliers covering the field! I personally felt they really earned and deserved their 1st place!!!

It almost seems unfair. If one band can practice year round and more hours than another can legally, then it seems as if they aren't playing by the same rules. Of course a band that practices that many more hours a week/month/year than other bands is going to be better. Saddle that up with the $$$ and great directors, then you probably have the makings of a force that can't be stopped. I can't wait to see them!!! Not trying to sound whiney, it just seems like everyone should have the same rules about practice hours. But good luck just the same.

I haven't seen Avon's show, but I was at Super Regionals in San Antonio and watched all 14 bands in their finals performance, and that included Bell, Marcus, Cedar Park, The Woodlands, and Churchill. The word that needs to be said about those shows are WOW! Looking forward to seeing all the shows. Will be up there for the Grand Nationals. Absolutely can't wait!!! Good Luck everyone!!!

What exactly do you mean by that statement?

Looks like L.D. Bell is planning on taking all first to last places and all the extra awards too, according to a few out there. They are really taking the fun out of the predictions pages.

Thanks for that really detailed observation. It was nicely said. And I do agree with you.

Sadly enough pretty much all the bands in the final ten were fated with the judge that didn't seem to be on the same page as all of the other judges and could have potentially been the cause of some of those bands being placed below the state qualifier mark.

Thanks

Bowie's show was great, sorry to imply it wasn't. And by looking at the scores there was no contest.

Do you happen to have the final scores?

It wasn't the best day for Churchill, but when it came down to it, the easier, safer, cleaner shows beat out the really big, difficult, wow, shows. But it comes down to what the judges want to see. One week you lose, the next week you take it all. But good luck to those that did advance!

We had a football game the Friday night before BOA Houston, had to meet at the school at 3AM to get to Houston for an early performance time, had to wait around all afternoon for the results and then had to perform that night at finals. It really is part of the program and I am sure that all those parents and kids out there have done it. It is fair to move these competitions around so the same schools aren't always close to the stadiums and the same schools aren't always far away and have to travel. Nobody wants to get up early and travel, but yet somebody does have to do it, so does it have to be the same schools every year?

I loved Johnson's show also, and I know they really enjoyed getting into the finals. I am sure they too will be working to improve that show. And the show should be a little reminiscent of the old Churchill shows because the director at Johnson used to be at Churchill and wrote or co-wrote many of those older shows. And you should go to the BOA SA. Minus the fact that there is an incredible amount of sound bouncing off of everything, the shows are so great.