UIL 5A Area B 2024

[WanderingTraveler]

  On 10/27/2024 at 8:20 PM, ClarinetFreak said:

just curious, realistically, how close is LS to Wakeland? Looks like LS is a lot closer than some make it out to be? Coming from a Reedy parent, they both sounded phenomenal and looked amazing. Hoping they do well representing Area B at state!

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Realistically very close… In prelims I would’ve taken Lone Star over Wakeland, but in finals the opposite. It seems to be a battle of runs. Interested to see how this pans out at state.

[Color Guardian]

  On 9/1/2024 at 2:35 AM, bow_nerd said:

Predictions 

*=State MBC Qualifier

1st-2nd Bubble

🥇Frisco Wakeland HS*: This is one of the most consistently good programs in the state. I've seen snippets of their show and the brass sounds great. Woodwinds sound like they could take their respective caption at state again. However, I don't think their show is something any more innovative than years past, and they may experience a slight plateau or even dip in their competition season results compared to last year. Other than that there's not much else to say. They're Wakeland.

🥈Frisco Lone Star HS*: Drove to their community preview in Frisco. Certainly a noticeable step forward in design. They sound PHENOMENAL for this early in the year, brass section is cranking more than ever before, and it's already cleaner than most, with a tougher book. I think they will once again be a crowd favorite, just from their opener alone. That said I think these top 2 are pretty locked. Lone Star's had nothing but an upward trajectory since 2020. They won here in 2022, though Wakeland was famously not there because of a UIL disqualification. There is also questions on how valid their win in Area Prelims last year was, what with spread-out performance times. However, I think the fact that Lone Star's had their foot in the door for a while there says that Wakeland is no longer untouchable in Area B. I see Wakeland still a little ahead, but I think they could definitely swap some ordinals with each other this year in finals. Lone Star could maybe even be a poor finals performance by Wakeland away from a more "undisputed" Area Championship.

 

3rd-5th Bubble

 

🥉Frisco Lebanon Trail HS*: I haven't seen LT yet, but they are a great program with some 5A state experience under their belt. Their show "Fascinating People" appears to be a step in the right direction this year, with a more "outside the box" show concept. I feel like that has been a consistent hold-back for this program, and it took them several years to escape their trend of safe, classical, albeit clean shows. I see some Chick Corea in their repertoire and that makes me excited. What the band staff does in terms of design with the show they've got, is what will make or break them against bands like Argyle, who are pretty heated up after last year's 4th to 5th place movement in finals.

4 McKinney North*: Not seen them yet. A lot of people talk about how this program gets "underscored" in UIL competitions because of their more BOA-oriented show designs. And while I see why people see it that way, I think North has gotten some pretty justifiable UIL scorings over the last few years, maybe even higher than expected. They've been a pretty consistent program since 2022, placing 3rd the last two years at Area, and making the SMBC last year for the first time in a while. I think they've found a neat identity with their jazzy shows and they remind me a lot of the Mandarins in terms of recent show design. I think they could be anywhere in the 3-5 bubble, but we'll see as the year plays out. 

5 Argyle HS: I put this program in 5th because I don't think I'm quite sold on them being fully on par yet with the big 5A bands. What they do have going for them, is lots of historically great state runs and I'm guessing some fired-up students after 2023's Area Finals. While this band IS similar in size to McKinney North, I feel like they still have a bit of 4A blood left in terms of show design, and North uses what they have far more effectively in my opinion. However, I would love for Argyle to prove me dead wrong, because I think they have found the top 5 bubble nice and comfortable these last two years, and are ready to make a swing for a possible top 4 or 3.

I think this top 5 is pretty set and will not be disrupted. 

 

6-10 Bubble

 

6 Frisco Independence HS: I think last year was a fluke. They have a great big sound for a smaller band, and they remind me a lot of Argyle, but a little louder.

7 The Colony HS: To be honest I don't really know where this program's headed. They never seem to attract a lot of attention in competition season leading up to this event (but I think they should get more credit), but always seem to end up in the middle-upper finals bubble. I think they'll stay there for now. I see them literally anywhere 6-10, or they could just randomly give Top 5 a small run for its money. 

8 Frisco Emerson HS: They really surprised me last year. I thought early on they'd be a dark horse for finals and ended up right. Lots of talent for a medium-size 5A band, especially being so new. I see them in the 8-12 range.

9 Anna HS: Another 4A band moving up, another with some good state experience. I think they will hover in the 8-14 range.

10 Lucas Lovejoy HS: This band is a lot like The Colony in terms of placement history, but has definitely been more volatile, with some historical 5th, 6ths, then 9ths and non-finals finishes. They consistently do very well in the prior competition season then get snubbed come Area, but I don't think they will break that Top 5 bubble. Anywhere from 6-12 for me.

Finals Bubble (In Descending Order): Frisco Memorial HS, Frisco Centennial HS, Frisco Reedy HS, Frisco Liberty HS, Prosper Walnut Grove HS

HUGE GRAIN OF SALT FOR THIS POST:  It's August. 95% of these are going to be wrong.

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Your predictions have been spot-on! Great job!!

[Bbas]

Does anyone have a vid of reedy or McKinney?

[Bbas]

  On 10/27/2024 at 10:14 PM, tennertrumbow said:

i caught a vid of reedy's opening hit from the 50 in finals, but that's about it.

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I would love to hear it!

[mahic]

  On 10/27/2024 at 5:29 PM, DrumLine said:

 

area-24_5A Area B 2024.pdf 129.8 kB · 45 downloads

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thanks!!

[mahic]

  On 10/27/2024 at 10:12 PM, Bbas said:

Does anyone have a vid of reedy or McKinney?

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I have mckinney!!

[H27dk]

  On 10/27/2024 at 9:24 PM, RhythmicTuba said:

I second this, as I was leaving the DM retreat after finals I walked by the McKinney North band near their truck. They were being very loud and celebrating all the while Lebanon Trail band members were crying and packing up their truck to go home right next to them. As someone whos band was not called to be in that top 4, it feels real bad and I can only imagine what it was like for a band that regularly makes it. I wish the MN Band Leadership could have shown some humility in that moment and consoled the Lebanon Trail members instead of celebrating in front of everyone else whos seasons just ended.

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I honestly think this has been blown out of proportion. I was there and have seen videos and it was minimal cheering when MN realized they had made state. And I saw members and directors actively telling the band to sit down and be quiet and respectful, so it certainly wasn’t intentional. Going last in finals immediately to results and then going to their truck to celebrate their success I see no problem with, they should be proud. All of the bands in finals including MN have put in tremendous work and any of them would’ve deserved to perform at state. I don’t see anymore good in tearing anyone down for 6 seconds of a realization that the MN band likely regrets. Out of the top 5 MN has been to state the least amount and I think it would be hard to find a band who wouldn’t have responded similarly in their same situation. Everyone worked hard. Everyone had great shows. Everyone deserves the recognition for great seasons

[Drumlineking]

  On 10/27/2024 at 10:20 PM, tennertrumbow said:

file size is too big to send; i'll upload it to my google drive and send it later if that's okay

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Do you have it yet?

[zxrzxz]

  On 10/27/2024 at 9:24 PM, RhythmicTuba said:

I second this, as I was leaving the DM retreat after finals I walked by the McKinney North band near their truck. They were being very loud and celebrating all the while Lebanon Trail band members were crying and packing up their truck to go home right next to them. As someone whos band was not called to be in that top 4, it feels real bad and I can only imagine what it was like for a band that regularly makes it. I wish the MN Band Leadership could have shown some humility in that moment and consoled the Lebanon Trail members instead of celebrating in front of everyone else whos seasons just ended.

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Yeah no i’m pretty sure I remember MN doing the same thing last year after argyle got announced 5th. It’s a little heartbreaking to hear they haven’t really made an effort to change in how they react to other bands not making state. I genuinely feel so bad for LT, considering they have made state these past few years and this year they didn’t. 

[Notajudge]

  On 10/27/2024 at 11:15 PM, H27dk said:

I honestly think this has been blown out of proportion. I was there and have seen videos and it was minimal cheering when MN realized they had made state. And I saw members and directors actively telling the band to sit down and be quiet and respectful, so it certainly wasn’t intentional. Going last in finals immediately to results and then going to their truck to celebrate their success I see no problem with, they should be proud. All of the bands in finals including MN have put in tremendous work and any of them would’ve deserved to perform at state. I don’t see anymore good in tearing anyone down for 6 seconds of a realization that the MN band likely regrets. Out of the top 5 MN has been to state the least amount and I think it would be hard to find a band who wouldn’t have responded similarly in their same situation. Everyone worked hard. Everyone had great shows. Everyone deserves the recognition for great seasons

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I understand where you are coming from for sure. After all these kids have been working so hard all season I can understand the feeling must be overwhelming when you don’t know for sure if you are going to make it through. It’s such a close competition. I give a lot of grace to the kids especially. But as a parent I am always so hyper aware that we are surrounded by many devoted parents and supporters of competing bands so I’m always on my very best behavior no matter what and I feel like the majority of parents are the same way.

[ilikeguardyay]

hi! i’m a student from liberty, i’m curious on what people think about how we did?

[TXBandNerd06]

  On 10/27/2024 at 11:52 PM, tennertrumbow said:

i understand your perspective.

however, it was not minimal unfortunately. i was there too and was looking down at my phone at the time and heard LT called out and the entirety of north was literally jumping up and down and screaming. it's perfectly visible from a livestream video on the LSHS band booster's facebook page. lone star students turned to each other with grins and smiling and probably some small quiet celebrations and especially with younger freshman students that's not completely avoidable. however that's the limit.

 

i dont think anyone's blowing it out of proportion by shaming on MN's students or show, and if they are then shame on them. last year you could give them more leniency for making state for the first time in YEARS. this year its different.

show restraint and celebrate to your absolute heart's content when your name is called. north deserves a LOT of praise! they did great and their brass sounded phenomenal and fun! the directors just need to teach their students to showcase that class and restraint.

i saw that the directors shushed them but if it had been emphasized more in the first place NOT to cheer then it wouldnt have happened on such a large scale with the entire band the way that it did. the other state bands didnt cheer like that, obviously showing that their directors had taught them that unsaid rule very well.

again, i dont think this got blown out of proportion, because it should certainly not be ignored. anyone downing on the production itself or the students should be reprimanded right back, but since this isnt the first time this has happened in the last two years, someone ought to point it out before it may happen again and again.

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I have been following this closely and even found the video you're refering to, and I think I'd like to weigh in on this. I want to first start off by saying intentionally degrading another band is absolutely never ok, and I understand how this could be seen that way, but I don't believe it's as bad as you're saying. From what I saw in the video, it was maybe 6-10 seconds of cheering before they quickly realized they were being disrespectful and sat down. I don't believe what happened was at all intentional on North's end as I even have friends there and I know that respect for other bands is a huge part of the culture they have there. They were under an immense amount of pressure this year to make it so as to live up to last year's standards and I can't blame them for having the reaction they did. I do agree it was sad to see LT not make it, and I know seing north's reaction most definately hurt, but it most definately not an intentional jab on North's end.

 

this is just my opinion let me know what y'all think, and congratulations to all the finalists this year.

[OrangeCheeseBread]

  On 10/27/2024 at 10:35 PM, mahic said:

I have mckinney!!

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Could you please send the video.

[RhythmicTuba]

  On 10/28/2024 at 12:22 AM, tennertrumbow said:

Reedy Opener Finals

@Bbas @Drumlineking 

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such a powerful opener

[mahic]

  On 10/28/2024 at 12:27 AM, OrangeCheeseBread said:

Could you please send the video.

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sure!

here it is

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qhn-dz1WkRbpHboy55d_Wn6htOKXYLPk/view?usp=drive_link

[BandParents]

What did we think about Independence?

[fhornstan]

Anyone else watch Frisco HS? Usually they're around 11th-13th I wonder what happened… Also did anyone else who watched frisco hear that mello at the end rip up to a high C??

[Toasty]

Just recently looked at scores after attending this contest yesterday, and am I the only one shocked about Emerson and the colony not making finals? It really was great seeing a lot of new faces but just genuinely confused what happened? I even saw someone post here earlier the colony got put as a state qualifier in a specific caption but 21st in another???

[jamminsalmon_]

  On 10/28/2024 at 2:13 AM, Toasty said:

Just recently looked at scores after attending this contest yesterday, and am I the only one shocked about Emerson and the colony not making finals? It really was great seeing a lot of new faces but just genuinely confused what happened? I even saw someone post here earlier the colony got put as a state qualifier in a specific caption but 21st in another???

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theres some truth behind this...something weird happened, correct me if im wrong as we don't have raw scores but we were told we got 3rd in individual movement, 4th in ensemble visual. for the 21st spot that was a percussion score a judge gave us

[archeryfan0267]

  On 10/27/2024 at 9:52 PM, Color Guardian said:

Your predictions have been spot-on! Great job!!

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Top 5 stayed intact.. bottom 5 not so much haha

[bassclarinetplayer]

  On 10/25/2024 at 9:12 PM, Bassss said:

LT at 8????, Their show is amazing! Probably like 3rd place, have you seen their show?

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No I have not, but no shade to LT, just haven't seen their show

[Taylor Remington]

Does anyone know why Heritage went from 6th place in Prelims to 10th place in Finals?

[archeryfan0267]

  On 10/28/2024 at 1:31 PM, Taylor Remington said:

Does anyone know why Heritage went from 6th place in Prelims to 10th place in Finals?

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They were buoyed to 6th in prelims by a Visual judge randomly putting them 2nd.

[RhythmicTuba]

judging was all over the place in prelims!

[TubaBoi123]

  On 10/28/2024 at 2:05 PM, RhythmicTuba said:

judging was all over the place in prelims!

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the recaps are all over the place in general judge to judge, they were all kinda in there own world when judging.