2019 BOA San Antonio

[HebronFan123]

  On 11/4/2019 at 2:28 PM, DeepEllum said:

Did anyone notice that Hebron completely overhauled their props inbetween prelims and finals? In prelims everything was solid grey and in finals they had some blue space stuff on the sides of everything.

Thank you so much for noticing! Our prop dads worked extremely hard to prepare them in time for finals!

[Samuel Culper]

  On 11/4/2019 at 4:55 PM, LivLikLarry said:

Pearland realistically wasn’t predicted to make 63rd. They have never placed lower than 28th. The predictions on txbands are only used to predict finalist. As the number is displaying they were just a long shot over their actual placement.

 

Yes, I was coming back to make that point.  IN THEORY, every single predictor that didn't enter them as a Finalist could have had Pearland as #15 on their personal list.  But, it is a pretty good indicator of how little chance the Hive Mind gave them to be in Finals.

[josephbandfan]

  On 11/4/2019 at 2:28 PM, DeepEllum said:

Did anyone notice that Hebron completely overhauled their props inbetween prelims and finals? In prelims everything was solid grey and in finals they had some blue space stuff on the sides of everything.

I wasn't sure if I just hadn't noticed them in prelims or not but it was a nice touch./

[ctex1994]

Congrats to all the finalists! Some things to note

 

After watching finals and watching videos of the groups that narrowly missed, I think groups like Cedar Ridge, Westwood and Westlake could have easily been in over groups like Pearland and RR, but contest dynamics especially with the format of 2 panels plays a huge role. There is not much a performance difference between the groups that place 11-18 or so. 

 

Surprised that Cedar Park and Rouse were so low....Cedar park seems to be GE which many predicted, Rouse just kind of low in everything, except for Music GE where both judges had them in the top 14. Crazy to think that rouse beat Bowie at the Texas Marching Classic. Contest dynamics play a HUGE role in a contest of this size. When you play and who you play near. 

 

My summary is that BOA needs to respond to the extreme interested in this contest and the extreme number of amazing bands. A semifinals round with the top 30 would make the placements much more accurate and gives the judges a better shot at picking the right bands for finals. 

[TWHSParent]

  On 11/4/2019 at 6:23 PM, ctex1994 said:

Congrats to all the finalists! Some things to note

 

After watching finals and watching videos of the groups that narrowly missed, I think groups like Cedar Ridge, Westwood and Westlake could have easily been in over groups like Pearland and RR, but contest dynamics especially with the format of 2 panels plays a huge role. There is not much a performance difference between the groups that place 11-18 or so. 

 

Surprised that Cedar Park and Rouse were so low....Cedar park seems to be GE which many predicted, Rouse just kind of low in everything. Crazy to think that rouse beat Bowie at the Texas Marching Classic. Contest dynamics play a HUGE role in a contest of this size. When you play and who you play near. 

 

My summary is that BOA needs to respond to the extreme interested in this contest and the extreme number of amazing bands. A semifinals round with the top 30 would make the placements much more accurate and gives the judges a better shot at picking the right bands for finals. 

 

I'll dissent a little - I don't agree that they got any wrong bands in finals. Every one of the 14 bands was finals worthy. Others were too, but they just miss, which happens at pretty much every contest. If they go with a semifinals, then finals will only be 10 or maybe 12. They won't do a 14 band finals. And we'll have the exact same conversation about 30th to 35th that we have for 14th to 18th. Then there are also the class awards - are they part of semifinals like nationals? If so, then semis will be expanded to allow at least 4 bands from each class (assuming 4 bands from each class attend). So now we are looking at 30 to 38 bands. Or maybe semis at a super is only top 20 or 25 with a top 10 finals and class awards are based on prelims. There are ramifications for all changes that have to be fully thought through and logistics have to be worked out. I don't expect any changes in the immediate future. BOA will check the impact of UIL's change to area to determine any negatives for them - how big of a reduction of attendees will they have, if any? Is the lure of the Alamodome enough to keep getting the Valley, Houston, and DFW bands to continue to attend, or will they go to a much smaller area contest where the competitive landscape is much reduced from BOA San Antonio?

[ctex1994]

  On 11/4/2019 at 6:46 PM, TWHSParent said:

I'll dissent a little - I don't agree that they got any wrong bands in finals. Every one of the 14 bands was finals worthy. Others were too, but they just miss, which happens at pretty much every contest. If they go with a semifinals, then finals will only be 10 or maybe 12. They won't do a 14 band finals. And we'll have the exact same conversation about 30th to 35th that we have for 14th to 18th. Then there are also the class awards - are they part of semifinals like nationals? If so, then semis will be expanded to allow at least 4 bands from each class (assuming 4 bands from each class attend). So now we are looking at 30 to 38 bands. Or maybe semis at a super is only top 20 or 25 with a top 10 finals and class awards are based on prelims. There are ramifications for all changes that have to be fully thought through and logistics have to be worked out. I don't expect any changes in the immediate future. BOA will check the impact of UIL's change to area to determine any negatives for them - how big of a reduction of attendees will they have, if any? Is the lure of the Alamodome enough to keep getting the Valley, Houston, and DFW bands to continue to attend, or will they go to a much smaller area contest where the competitive landscape is much reduced from BOA San Antonio?

Im not saying none of those groups didn't deserve to be in. Of course they did. I am saying there are so many worthy bands that in order to accurately place them a smaller number needs to be taken to semifinals. Then they all need to be judged by the same panel in Semifinals. 

[BandFan59]

I think with a competition like San Antonio, ranking the bubble bands becomes a near impossible task, considering there are far more than 14 worthy finalists. There is no other regional or super regional in the country that is as big or competitive as SA.

[RookieBandDad]

This was great competition with one exception...so many performers tripping and/or falling during shows, Finals included. I counted a total 9 falls and numerous trips without a fall, and I only attended one prelim block plus finals. I have a couple questions that I hope someone here can answer -

 

1) Does a fall normally result in point deductions? If so, were exceptions made this weekend?

 

2) I have only been a BOA spectator/parent for a couple of years, I don't recall ever seeing a performer fall at any event. Does BOA have any commentary on the Alamodome turf issue?

[LeanderMomma]

Supposedly the turf was replaced this summer. Sounds like it’s very uneven or just has some random high spots. I would be curious to know if the UTSA football team has noticed or been affected by it.

[SpartanBandAlum]

The yard lines are much harder/higher than the rest of the turf (at least from what I could tell this morning), which might be playing a part

[ChristopherRoden]

  On 11/4/2019 at 8:16 PM, RookieBandDad said:

This was great competition with one exception...so many performers tripping and/or falling during shows, Finals included. I counted a total 9 falls and numerous trips without a fall, and I only attended one prelim block plus finals. I have a couple questions that I hope someone here can answer -

 

1) Does a fall normally result in point deductions? If so, were exceptions made this weekend?

 

2) I have only been a BOA spectator/parent for a couple of years, I don't recall ever seeing a performer fall at any event. Does BOA have any commentary on the Alamodome turf issue?

In some previous contests I’ve been to they reward recovery

[TWHSParent]

  On 11/4/2019 at 8:16 PM, RookieBandDad said:

This was great competition with one exception...so many performers tripping and/or falling during shows, Finals included. I counted a total 9 falls and numerous trips without a fall, and I only attended one prelim block plus finals. I have a couple questions that I hope someone here can answer -

 

1) Does a fall normally result in point deductions? If so, were exceptions made this weekend?

 

2) I have only been a BOA spectator/parent for a couple of years, I don't recall ever seeing a performer fall at any event. Does BOA have any commentary on the Alamodome turf issue?

 

1) Of course it does, especially if it has a larger ripple impact that reduces the effectiveness of the visual program, or potentially the music program. Also on the BOA sheets there is an evaluation on how performers recover from errors (such as falling) that can mitigate the issue.

 

2) Falls happen fairly often for many reasons (I'm looking at you tarps!). It is harder to see with a larger ensemble, especially if they recover well (see point 1 above). I think it was Flower Mound that had a sousaphone front and center fall going into their last set at finals Saturday night. I noticed it, but the person beside me did not. So it really depends on where you are looking at the time.

[LostChoirGuy]

  On 11/4/2019 at 8:30 PM, TWHSParent said:

 

2) Falls happen fairly often for many reasons (I'm looking at you tarps!). It is harder to see with a larger ensemble, especially if they recover well (see point 1 above). I think it was Flower Mound that had a sousaphone front and center fall going into their last set at finals Saturday night. I noticed it, but the person beside me did not. So it really depends on where you are looking at the time.

I felt really bad for that FM member. They were featured right at that moment and it was their final moment in competition for the entire year. There were dozens of falls though so it was definitely a problem. Some would have been almost comical if I wasn't worried about the performer getting hurt.

[TWHSParent]

  On 11/4/2019 at 8:43 PM, LostChoirGuy said:

I felt really bad for that FM member. They were featured right at that moment and it was their final moment in competition for the entire year. There were dozens of falls though so it was definitely a problem. Some would have been almost comical if I wasn't worried about the performer getting hurt.

 

Yeah, that one worried me quite a bit. It can't feel good to fall on one of those things. After thinking about the performer, what about the instrument? There were more falls this year than usual, and the turf was probably the issue from the info we have. It was almost like the good ole days when we marched on a grass field the day after Friday football....

[vbassoon]

  On 11/4/2019 at 9:27 PM, BandJunkies said:

The UTSA football team is pretty bad. Hard to tell the impact the turf is having.

hey man we don’t do that here

[LM1047]

  On 11/4/2019 at 9:27 PM, BandJunkies said:

The UTSA football team is pretty bad. Hard to tell the impact the turf is having.

Fire Frank Wilson!

[MikeKyu]

So, I went to watch rehearsals t hi is afternoon after Tivy. Who rocked?

[SpartanBandAlum]

  On 11/5/2019 at 12:34 AM, MikeKyu said:

So, I went to watch rehearsals t hi is afternoon after Tivy. Who rocked?

I really enjoyed Highland Park, Colleyville, Weiss, Hanks, Forney, Rouse, and LT. Everyone’s so good it’s hard to pick!

[LKendrick]

Just got home from an amazing weekend.  Definitely have some thoughts.  More than ever the depth of this is just mind blowing.  So many good bands that I couldn't fathom how long it would take to give all of them some love.  So many break out seasons for so many programs, I love seeing the progression of so many bands having so much success.  Some surprising results for sure, but I think for the most part the judges got it right.  There were about 15 bands who didn't make finals that I wouldn't have been shocked if they did.  Thoughts on the finalists:

 

Pearland - The ending of this show encapsulates what I loved most about it.  As soon as they hit that tempo change with the FTL boxes, it's just a minute of increasing velocity, shorter moves, and constant compression of the field until it just exploded at the end.  Masterfully done in terms of building tension, both musically and visually.  This announcement came out of left field, but I'm so glad it did.  I've loved them for a few years now, and am so happy they can now say they're a BOA San Antonio Super Regional finalist.  We should have know based on them missing in Houston the last few years but doing really well at San Antonio that they were gonna be hot after their 6th place finalist appearance earlier in October.  Huge congratulations, hearing them going nuts finding out they made finals was one of my favorite moments of the weekend.  

 

Keller - They are daredevils doing a show that hard, they are just flying while playing some really difficult music that whole show.  Their brass has really formed a noticeable approach and achievement level the last few years, and that was no less prevalent this year.  The features in Ostinato were TIGHT.  Their closer was especially wild, the drill was so hard and was perfectly matched by the music, the glissandos in the trombones on top of all that were just so fun.  Loving that they have maintained a high level of success.  

 

Round Rock - This show probably gets the most improved award of the year, they gave two beautiful performances over the weekend.  Very lush and warm ensemble sound that made stuff like Pagliacci and La Vie en Rose really shine.  Fantastic work by the percussion as always, and I though their drill was really well composed overall.  I'm so excited to see them back in, and that bodes really well for Grand Nationals in two weeks.  

 

James Bowie - Their body work was top notch, in both composition and performance.  They performed that stuff with so much attitude.  The aggressive side to side shifting was my favorite of that.  Loved the color palette as well.  Music was really seamless and pretty, always like it when the stuff from Avatar is used on the field.  Very happy to see them back in finals this year, I loved them last year as well.  

 

LD Bell - I really liked the concept of breaking up th tarp/panels in the middle of the file and spreading them out and changing the landscape of the field.  Guard did a nice job filling all the negative space throughout the show.  Really energetic music performance from them, really tight overall and the music had a very mysterious/ethereal vibe to it all.  Also glad to see them back in finals again and improving quite a bit on last year as well.  

 

Flower Mound - The stark white palette they used to portray something like vitrification against was a fantastic decision, the look of this show was so great to look at.  Loved the additional elements that they added to this show throughout.  I thought the music they selected fit the show really well, really liked Neodammerung especially.  Thought their guard really shined this year and were staged in a way that featured them really well.  Really great minimalist type show once again, hope they keep doing shows like that.  

 

The Woodlands - Oh my word, easily one of my favorites of the weekend by far.  This is one of those shows were the kids were given a character and they completely bought into it.  From the second they walk onto the field to the second they leave they put on a SHOW.  Love how they all interact with eachother on the field and even with the crowd.  The music is a blast, they do straight up Bernstein really well.  Tons of great soloists and small ensemble features.  This show defintiely has some room to grow going into GN, so I'm really excited to see this in two weeks in Indianapolis.  

 

Claudia Taylor Johnson - As always they're tackling one of the most physically demanding shows on the field and doing a very admirable job of it.  The velocity of this show is pretty breathtaking to watch (maybe breathless because I would be dead trying to march drill like that right now).  Clearly a fan favorite, the crowd loved this both times I saw it this weekend.  I Can't Wait to Be King is definitely the highlight, they just look like they are having a total blast out there.  Really excited to see how this one grows over the next two weeks as well.  

 

Marcus - Wow, what a gorgeous show.  Probably my favorite of theirs since 2012.  Their prelims run especially was just pristine in every regard, especially musically.  Everything was tight, controlled, focused, etc.  But they played with a little more power this year as well which made it even better.  Percussion and guard are also fantastic, they both really shined in how they were featured in this show.  Woodwinds in Ruslan and Ludmilla and brass in the closer really blew me away.  And good lord that oboe player, I don't know where they get these double reed kids every year but good God.  Incredible.  

 

Hebron - So.  Hard.  Oh my gosh, the level of difficulty they're attempting is just bonkers.  I saw this at DMI as well and it's already grown so much in a week.  Still a lot of room left to grow, but if it gets to where I think they can get it this will be something to behold in Indianapolis.  This is a really hard visual program too, they've really kicked up the difficulty in that regard that last two years.  So much talent all around in every section, they just need to spend a week and a half rehearsing and they'll shine bright here in a week and a half.  

 

Leander - Goodness.  I knew that closer had some stuff to add, but they far exceeded what I expected them to do.  When streamers started shooting in 1812 everyone around me freaked out.  The Oppenheimer quote going into that ending sent shivers shooting up my spine.  Also loved the fabric stuff they added in the ballad climax, really cool stuff.  They're doing a lot more technical stuff this year and some of it is REALLY hitting.  The Texas contingent this year have done a great job of programming shows that will push them towards a later season but not going over the top, and Leander has hit I think the best balance of all of that.  This was probably my favorite of the weekend from an entertainment standpoint, and I don't see that changing.  

 

Vista Ridge - Wow, the energy that this show added between when I saw it in Midland and now was pretty mind blowing.  I've said it 20,000 times but man this show was hard, and they did an amazing job tackling that and then some.  The musical timing with this drill was a ten in difficulty and they killed it.  Visual performance from them was incredibly strong, both in performing the really intricate body and the really high velocity drill.  Guard is better every year, percussion is so underrated and had one of my favorite features of the year, and that soloist, wow.  Amazing job, never heard a bad run from her.  I love that they built on last years successes, and look forward to seeing them grow into next year.  

 

Vandegrift - The top 2 bands were just marching band essence.  Vandegrift as always gave a fantastic twist on some of the classical repertoire and performed the crap outta it.  Clean and clear drill and a musical performance that was pure and powerful.  The micro and macro shaping they do in both section features and full ensemble is mind blowing, and I don't think there are many other bands that can do that that well.  The ballad in this show was them at their best.  Super tasteful and fantastically performed drumline and front ensemble stuff, beautiful dancing from the Vision Dance Company, and that trombone soloist.  WOW!  This has huge potential at GN, and I fully expect them to bring home at least one caption.  Best of luck, this is gonna be an amazing last two weeks for them.  

 

Ronald Reagan - Good lord.  The presence this band had was unreal.  This show was ethereal, simple, seamless, and so many other superlatives.  The visual program just progressed so logically and achieved amazing effect from just straight up and incredible drill.  Some of those sequences in there just blew my mind as someone who is getting into doing some visual design stuff.  That moment in the ballad when the flags circle the field was just.....breathtaking.  The member being taken around the field by the dance team/guard in the band outfit was so fun to watch.  One of my favorite ever moments probably.  Fantastic musical performance too, some really great technical moments and a POWERFUL ensemble sound.  I was shocked when I got onto the field level for the encore how little was actually amplified.  The "Secret World" that they immersed us all in will easily go down as an all time favorite for me and totally deserved that massive score it got.  I love shows with amazing props, great electronics, and so on.  But what Ronald Reagan is doing and having success with is also so refreshing.  They're just an amazing marching band.  I think Daniel Sanchez said it best when he said this show was no fat lean marching band.  It was filet mignon.  This is probably my favorite of the three years I have seen this competition live.  Keep doing what you're doing.  

[aggie94]

The dancing drum major at Reagan is actually one of their 5 drum majors. She is also a trumpet player in the highest band there. Super talented kid.

[LHSax]

I know we've gushed about Reagan plenty here, but I've been watching "not" Reagan videos on repeat the last few days, and now I WANT TO GUSH ABOUT IT MORE! This show has something for everyone. Particularly, the part after the ballad where the character gets led through the circles and the ostinato develops around them might be one of the most effective marching band moments I've ever seen. This is CLASSIC early 2000's Reagan, and I can't get enough of it. It's just darn good design and it is the perfect integration of musical/visual story telling. The drill as a whole is fantastic, and the recurring visual and musical motifs really tie the whole thing together beautifully. I can't wait to see what kind of impact this show has on the activity in years to come, because it feels era defining to me.

 

This show is going right up on the mantle for top high school shows of the decade for me, right next to (and maybe on top of) FM '16 and Woodlands '13...Guess I can't wait for what 2022 has in store...

[Band_dad_of_2]

  Quote

 

Just got home from an amazing weekend.  Definitely have some thoughts. More than ever the depth of this is just mind blowing.  So many good bands that I couldn't fathom how long it would take to give all of them

some love.  So many break out seasons for so many programs, I love seeing the progression of so many bands having so much success.  Some surprising results for sure, but I think for the most part the judges

got it right.  There were about 15 bands who didn't make finals that I wouldn't have been shocked if they did.

 

What keeps blowing my mind is that THESE ARE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS!!!!!

 

I'm almost embarrassed to admit I was in marching band many (many, many, many....many) years ago.  Usually, folks my age have a syndrome called "the older we get, the better we were". 

That simply does not apply to marching band.  I watch these kids and marvel at their talent and I'm not afraid to admit that they run circle after circle after circle around what we old-timers did back in the

day.

[CTJBandPops]

  On 11/5/2019 at 6:24 PM, Band_dad_of_2 said:

What keeps blowing my mind is that THESE ARE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS!!!!!

 

I'm almost embarrassed to admit I was in marching band many (many, many, many....many) years ago.  Usually, folks my age have a syndrome called "the older we get, the better we were". 

That simply does not apply to marching band.  I watch these kids and marvel at their talent and I'm not afraid to admit that they run circle after circle after circle around what we old-timers did back in the

day.

me too - I was in marching band 35 years years ago - i am noit sure I could do these shows if I was 35 years younger - not just the drill, but the music book is insane

[1998-2018]

  On 11/5/2019 at 12:53 AM, LKendrick said:

 

Keller - They are daredevils doing a show that hard, they are just flying while playing some really difficult music that whole show. Their brass has really formed a noticeable approach and achievement level the last few years, and that was no less prevalent this year. The features in Ostinato were TIGHT. Their closer was especially wild, the drill was so hard and was perfectly matched by the music, the glissandos in the trombones on top of all that were just so fun. Loving that they have maintained a high level of success.

I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain.

 

Keller, undeniably being Keller.

 

Thank you for recognizing them for staying true to who they are. Fearless!

[SpartanBandAlum]

I've finally gotten around to updating my score spreadsheet! Some pretty notable changes near the top (Reagan setting new records for highest overall and GE scores, Leander and Vandy setting new personal bests, etc.)

 

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZKZ65G30TyVBhf9QXEVGBvADhqsQw_3rHBg5OH4izMQ/edit?usp=sharing