rcb05

Duncanville is still an interesting case because they finished third in State Honor Band last spring. So clearly the musical ability is still there to complete with the big boys. Maybe it comes more down to the funds they can put toward show design.

What time frame are you judging this by? Economically, Duncanville is certainly worse off than it was 20 years or so ago.

Now I’m lost. In what way does the UIL system involve voting?

Someone falling isn't as big of a deal as it might seem. Overall difficulty of the drill, cleanliness of the sets, and individual marching technique is much more important.

Here's a video of Duncanville's prelims performance. Still amazing that performance wasn't finals-worthy. And let me be clear, that's not a critique of the judges at all. It's a testament to how GOOD marching band in Texas has become. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sWARkurBMQ

You're correct that all of those are 5A. Midlothian came in sixth at the Area C contest last week. Very respectable, being beaten only by Berkner, Rowlett, Coppel, Duncanville and N Mesquite.

Anyone seen scores for Area C?

Bandaid, the music scores were all over the map for most schools, not just RR. Plus, even if that judge that put RR 22nd had ranked them third, they still would have missed finals. I know it can be frustrating, but overall it doesn't seem like any one school got the short end of the stick.

That was my senior year at Duncanville. I still remember talking to my dad around lunchtime and him saying, "We saw Westfield, and it wasn't all that impressive. I think they'll miss finals. But you know who was really good: LD Bell." It sounded ridiculous at the time. But later that night was the moment I realized that being at all those practices, games and contest over the years had turned my dad into a pretty well-informed marching band enthusiast. Oh, and I'm still bitter over that loss

Full schedule link and participating bands listed below. Top four advancing to state. Predictions? http://www.uilregion3music.net/2012%20Area...%28FINAL%29.pdf MacArthur Garland Naaman Forest Coppell Rockwall Heath Lake Highlands Rowlett JJ Pearce North Mesquite Berkner Lakeview Centennial Sachse Robert E. Lee Richardson Duncanville Mesquite Midlothian Cedar Hill DeSoto South Grand Prairie Sunset John Horn Duncanville/Coppell/Berkner is a pretty clear cut top three IMO, but there are several bands that could compete for that last spot. I've heard good things about N Mesquite, Garland, Rowlett and Sachse.

Shows how much I know. I'm going mostly on reputation there.

For every five bands at the contest, one advances to state. So the top six bands from Area D should advance. I think it's relatively safe to assume that Reagan, Churchill, CT Johnson and Bowie advance, but there are several other bands that should complete for the other two spots.

Very Duncanville-heavy judging panel there

And don't forget the Duncanville moral victory by showing up everyone with their exhibition at the end.

Loved this feature two years ago, will definitely pony up the dough to watch again Nov. 6.

Don't know the full results, but Duncanville won 1st place as well as marching, winds, GE and drum major captions. Waxahachie finished 2nd.

Looks like Coppell should go in as the favorite. I've always liked DMI's date because you truly get to see everyone's finished product. However it does mean that you miss out on some of the top 5A or 4A bands (depending on who has state that year).

Duncanville 2011: For Whom the Bell Tolls

Not only has Duncanville made State Finals every year since '88, they've also finished in the top three at eight of the last nine SMCs.

Pasted from Duncanville's website: In our 2012 production, "The Crossing," the Duncanville High School Band and High Hats will complete the "Angel" trilogy that began in 2010. The show opens with the haunting chorale from Gustav Mahler's Second Symphony, known as the "Resurrection" Symphony. The remainder of the first movement introduces the beautiful melody of "Hope" from Jonathan Elias' "The Prayer Cycle," followed by the aggressive and highly technical Piano Concerto in G by Howard Hanson. The second movement revisits and builds on "The Prayer Cycle" melody first heard in the show's opening. The final movement opens with Jake Remington's "Prelude to Paradise," a powerful technical display by the percussion and woodwinds as our character struggles to leave this world behind in favor of the next. Finally, the "crossing" is complete, and the triumphant finale of Mahler's "Resurrection" Symphony brings our 2012 program and three-year story to a magnificent conclusion.

Here are the results from Saturday. To nobody's surprise, Marcus dominated: Prelims Finals

Duncanville making finals every year since 1988, medaling in 8 of the last 9 and 11 of the last 15 state contests.

The Brain show was a great concept (one they actually adopted from their winter guard). The problem was that they simply didn't play enough music to garner the scores needed to make finals.

As an alum, it warms my soul to hear those comments about Duncanville. Many worried about the director change, but I think they took everything that was good about Duncanville (great playing, fundamental marching and musical selection) and put it with a show design/theme that was something we've never seen from them before. Best show since 2002, maybe ever.

Quality video of Duncanville's finals performance: