2019 BOA Grand National Championships

[BlueCircle]

I can see why Vandegrift beat Avon in visual...they move more than Avon, the drill is perfect, and there is so much simultaneous demand with the insane music while covering the whole field.

[betelgeuse33]

I have all my hopes in Vandegrift!

[LHSax]

That drumline! That brass technique! That ballad! Bring it home Vandy!!!!!!

[Bladezz]

Has someone gone over the time limit? Last three groups have started about a minute past their time slot.

[Nny14]

I wish Carmels music was as good as the end of the show the whole time, because their visual is up there.

[BlueCircle]

Vandegrift’s drill was spotless and in contrast, Carmel’s was noticeably rough around the edges. Also Carmel’s music performance can’t compete with Team Texas. Carmel is in no way weaker this year, but their weaknesses are amplified ten fold by Team Texas.

[BandFan59]

My own personal predictions now that all the finalists have gone:

 

1. Vandegrift

2. Avon

3. Hebron

4. Leander

5. Claudia Taylor Johnson

6. Carmel

7. The Woodlands

8. William Mason

9. Homestead

10. Round Rock

11. Union

12. Ayala

 

Music - Hebron

Visual - Avon/Vandegrift

GE - Vandegrift

 

The top 6 are going to be incredibly tight score-wise in my opinion as well.

[FloMoParent]

Questions:
Will Hebron finally break their Bridesmaid's curse?
Will Vandy be a first time attendee champion?

Will there be a Texas medal sweep?

[Rubisco]

Remember at the start of the season how I was going on and on about how Hebron and CTJ were the best hopes for Texas winning a National Championship this year, and how I didn't think Vandegrift quite had the design aspect down enough to win it? Well, I'm so completely happy I was wrong! When I first saw it at Austin finals, I knew it was an all-around outstanding production, and the clear Austin regional champ. During the moment leading up to the big hit of the ballad, and during the big hit of the ballad, I caught myself thinking, "Could this possibly be a national championship quality show?" I sort of brushed it off at the time, because I didn't think the entire show as a whole quite reached that level. Tonight, Vandegrift showed why they would be a perfectly legitimate National Champion. Outstanding music and visuals. So loud, so powerful, and without any shotgun mics! Vandegrift just melts your face off. I know there will be a lot of talk about how they don't have a guard, but the payoff is that their dance team moves better than any guard that was fielded tonight. When I watch this show, I think it is the perfect Vandegrift show. It's still traditional, but with some really fresh and interesting music and visuals thrown into the mix. Also, to my mind, Vandegrift is like the perfect replacement for SFA from back in the day, but they sound so, so, so, SO much better than SFA ever did. Really outstanding work. Congrats, guys!

[FloMoParent]

#TeamTexas really BROUGHT it.  So proud of each and every one of the bands.

[Rubisco]

My top three would be Vandegrift, Avon, and Hebron. I'm not sure about the order. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if any of them were named champion. Carmel also gave a much better music performance than I was expecting, and their visual program was fantastic, so I could see them closer to the top 3 than people might expect.

 

Can we talk for a moment about how much better the Texas groups sounded than just about any of the other groups at the contest? I know it's kind of obvious, and we talk about it a lot, but I felt like it was even more obvious than usual with the large number of TX groups in finals. It was especially apparent when you compared the soloists and small ensembles. I mean, just the quality of the sound, not to mention the technique and musicality, was just so much better. Bravo, guys!

[FloMoParent]

My picks (but I have no idea what I am doing):

1. Hebron

2. Avon 

3. Vandegrift

4. Leander

5. Claudia Taylor Johnson

6. Carmel

7. The Woodlands 

8. Round Rock

9. Union

10. Homestead

11. William Mason

12. Ayala

 

Music - Hebron

Visual - Hebron

GE - Avon

[Scansion]

Comparing 2015 to now, Hebron’s guard has improved a lot

[Minimaster]

  On 11/17/2019 at 4:25 AM, IPlayDrumsAndStuff said:

Marian Catholic's show was literally their 2000 championship show.

 

But I liked that show, so I'll let it slide

Yeah, Greg Bimm can do what ever the heck he wants.

[Rubisco]

  On 11/17/2019 at 4:25 AM, Scansion said:

Comparing 2015 to now, Hebron’s guard has improved a lot

 

YES. Very much so.

[A Testing Trumpet]

I watched finals together with my folks, and that was one heck of a finals. 

Every single one of the Texas bands were legendary. Vandegrift put on a clinic of pure cleanliness, Hebron melted me way with their sound and the difficulty of their music. Leander was so much fun to watch, probably my favorite show tonight. CTJ's visual performance was stunning and their energy was contagious; The Woodlands really sold the character of their show, and I loved them. Round Rock performed the heck out of their show and I'm so proud of them for pushing as hard as they did. 

 

Thanks for such wonderful shows tonight, and for representing TX at a level that no other state can claim to do at GN!

[LHSax]

The colors in this retreat are spectacular!!

[Rubisco]

Okay, I'm leaving now. I'll come back when the recaps are posted.

 

Also, somebody let me know when some of the multicam finals performances get posted on YouTube. You know, I need to see them, and totally not because I plan on ripping them or anything...

[lost]

Why would anyone ever want to pirate Flo’s videos?

[lost]

It’s crazy to think we’ve waited for this moment since the first Texan band announced they’d be making the trek up to Indy

Been a long season, felt short to me

[josephbandfan]

  On 11/17/2019 at 4:51 AM, lost said:

It’s crazy to think we’ve waited for this moment since the first Texan band announced they’d be making the trek up to Indy

Been a long season, felt short to me

It felt extremely short to me. I'm not ready for the off season, but excited for the future and a new decade.

[LostChoirGuy]

Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't all state band members selected in January? How is it possible for any of these students to be a four-year all state band member already?

 

Totally not meaning to bash or call anyone a liar. Just wondering.

[Nny14]

  On 11/17/2019 at 5:01 AM, LostChoirGuy said:

Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't all state band members selected in January? How is it possible for any of these students to be a four-year all state band member already?

 

Totally not meaning to bash or call anyone a liar. Just wondering.

You're right. I'd imagine he makes it again though.

[Ants_VS_Cotton Balls]

all state jazz senior year

  On 11/17/2019 at 5:01 AM, LostChoirGuy said:

Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't all state band members selected in January? How is it possible for any of these students to be a four-year all state band member already?

Totally not meaning to bash or call anyone a liar. Just wondering.

[kold]

  On 11/17/2019 at 5:01 AM, LostChoirGuy said:

Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't all state band members selected in January? How is it possible for any of these students to be a four-year all state band member already?

Totally not meaning to bash or call anyone a liar. Just wondering.

The trombonist is 4-year All State Jazz - it was this past week