UIL 5A State Marching Contest 2023

[lainey]

I’m with Fulshear, I send good luck to all of you finalists today 🫶

[jetliner]

Just wanted to say yesterday's prelims was the final competition I could make it out to, since I have essentially all of my classes on Tuesday/Thursday this semester. After running the schedules of everything I attended into a text file, I got to see 308 performances on the field over the course of the season, at competitions in Austin, Midland, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio! My graduation is set for next spring, and with my plans to be entering the workforce at that time, I do not think I am going to ever be able to do again what I did this season. THANK YOU to all the incredible bands I got to witness, this has definitely been a season to remember! Best of luck to those in finals today!

[bsk]

1 hour ago, ClutchATX said:

I also didn't realize how seriously the Leander ISD schools took marching band with all 5 schools being among the top bands in the state.

It's been that way in 6A and 5A for several years. They currently have two 6A schools (Vandy and Vista Ridge) and four 5A schools (Glenn is the other one). Glenn finished 4th at Area behind Liberty Hill and there were only three state slots.

[ClutchATX]

9 minutes ago, bsk said:

It's been that way in 6A and 5A for several years. They currently have two 6A schools (Vandy and Vista Ridge) and four 5A schools (Glenn is the other one). Glenn finished 4th at Area behind Liberty Hill and there were only three state slots.

I'm a parent of a freshman in the district. The culture is pretty amazing from the band directors to the students to the parent booster organization. Lots of organization and fundraising. It takes a village. 

[Tubalord11]

Good luck to everyone competing this afternoon!!! Cant wait to see these bands final performances of the season. This is the end of the line, so give it your all! No matter what the results end up being, y’all have accomplished something so many bands dream of, so be proud of yourself for getting this far. Special shoutouts to @clarinetistkai05& @tennertrumbow!!! 

[Tailgate88]

1 hour ago, ClutchATX said:

I'm a parent of a freshman in the district. The culture is pretty amazing from the band directors to the students to the parent booster organization. Lots of organization and fundraising. It takes a village. 

Huge props to the crazy marching band machine you all have in your district.  It has to be the premier example of a district and parents supporting their kids across an entire district in the country.  I have to wonder though - do you guys start training those kids to march in Junior High?  What about guard - are there colorguard schools the young 'uns start going to like the dance/gymnastics type schools elsewhere?  It's astonishing to me that you all are able to put such a quality product on the field with only 8 hours a week of rehearsal.  I have always though it would be cool if they started teaching some of the marching skills at the Jr. High level, wondering if anyone is actually already doing that?

Anyway, congrats.  Love watching the schools from LISD perform!

[natertater21000]

18 minutes ago, Tailgate88 said:

Huge props to the crazy marching band machine you all have in your district.  It has to be the premier example of a district and parents supporting their kids across an entire district in the country.  I have to wonder though - do you guys start training those kids to march in Junior High?  What about guard - are there colorguard schools the young 'uns start going to like the dance/gymnastics type schools elsewhere?  It's astonishing to me that you all are able to put such a quality product on the field with only 8 hours a week of rehearsal.  I have always though it would be cool if they started teaching some of the marching skills at the Jr. High level, wondering if anyone is actually already doing that?

Anyway, congrats.  Love watching the schools from LISD perform!

Aside from a very brief (usually 2 or 3 evenings in may) marching band camp for the incoming 8th graders, they are not taught any marching fundamentals at the middle school level.

A fairly decent number of the middle schools in Leander ISD do have guard programs that primarily teach the fundamentals of flag work. 

[crunchycookie3]

It should also be noted that there is no strings/orchestra program in Leander ISD. If kids are instrumentally inclined, they WILL join band.

[Tailgate88]

1 minute ago, crunchycookie3 said:

It should also be noted that there is no strings/orchestra program in Leander ISD. If kids are instrumentally inclined, they WILL join band.

Ah - I did not know that!  Well that's definitely a way to have bigger and better bands - get all your musicians in one basket so to say.  Smart.

[Bobby Bell]

16 hours ago, texastrumpetdad said:

They had a good clean run…I have them on the bubble due to the bad draw

Richland was in our area in my opinion they should of been first instead of aledo but the judges seem to be partial to aledo for some reason and they didnt even make finals at state

[MikeKyu]

7 minutes ago, Tailgate88 said:

Huge props to the crazy marching band machine you all have in your district.  It has to be the premier example of a district and parents supporting their kids across an entire district in the country.  I have to wonder though - do you guys start training those kids to march in Junior High?  What about guard - are there colorguard schools the young 'uns start going to like the dance/gymnastics type schools elsewhere?  It's astonishing to me that you all are able to put such a quality product on the field with only 8 hours a week of rehearsal.  I have always though it would be cool if they started teaching some of the marching skills at the Jr. High level, wondering if anyone is actually already doing that?

Anyway, congrats.  Love watching the schools from LISD perform!

There are some middle school guard programs in the district. At Cedar Park Middle School they do not teach marching. That being said, the band directors and assistants are highly involved with helping to bring the middle schoolers along. Occasionally sections will be chosen to rehearse with the middle schoolers. This is part of the district's principles that academics, athletics, and arts are equal. 

[lost]

I'd like the recap, if it could find it's way into my messages.

[texastrumpetdad]

59 minutes ago, Bobby Bell said:

Richland was in our area in my opinion they should of been first instead of aledo but the judges seem to be partial to aledo for some reason and they didnt even make finals at state

No reason to take away from what Aledo accomplished at Area or from what Richland accomplished at State yesterday. Centennial had the horrible draw at Area with the added challenge of the bad weather and still overcame it to make it to State. Making State finals for BC and Richland was fantastic yesterday…especially with BC’s placement! I just wish Aledo could have come along for the ride as well to help represent Area F. Best of luck to Centennial and Richland in finals today!!

[clarinetistkai05]

2 hours ago, Tubalord11 said:

Good luck to everyone competing this afternoon!!! Cant wait to see these bands final performances of the season. This is the end of the line, so give it your all! No matter what the results end up being, y’all have accomplished something so many bands dream of, so be proud of yourself for getting this far. Special shoutouts to @clarinetistkai05& @tennertrumbow!!! 

Also @SaxA41 and @krustyjoe, they’re marching finals too!

[MikeKyu]

Have amazing runs today @clarinetistkai05 @tennertrumbow @SaxA41 @krustyjoe.

[clarinetistkai05]

6 minutes ago, MikeKyu said:

Have amazing runs today @clarinetistkai05 @tennertrumbow @SaxA41 @krustyjoe.

Also forgot @BandKid_2 mb bro

[TrebleMaker2]

2 hours ago, Bobby Bell said:

Richland was in our area in my opinion they should of been first instead of aledo but the judges seem to be partial to aledo for some reason and they didnt even make finals at state

Please think about what you are posting….Every one of those judges has a lot of experience in consistency, expectations, and adjudication standards. They have no reason to favor any band, and they have spent many years of their lives studyingthe nuances of performance. Their task is to award the best product they can and to encourage excellence and give suggestions for improvement. Our task is to support ALL bands, encourage as we can. Criticism needs to be constructive and delivered in a manner which is open to friendly discussion. We may be disappointed with results, but there are ways to express that in a gentler way. Let’s just enjoy theperformances and appreciate each student’s journey!

[BandDad4Life]

The best of luck to all the bands today!  12 out of 251 schools get the opportunity to compete in the finals. Too bad there can’t be more than 12.  There are definitely a bunch of bands who deserve to be here, Pflugerville and Aledo just to name two. 
 

There are so many great bands and others getting better every year. It is going to get more and more difficult to make state, let alone finals. 
 

BAND KIDS ARE THE BEST!

[J-Mike16]

Love this pre-opener from Lebanon Trail!

[J-Mike16]

Such a fantastic way to start off 5A Finals!!!!! Loved the powerful statement at the beginning and the ballad was gorgeous. Awesome job Lebanon Trail!!

[MikeKyu]

Lebanon Trail: 
Grand opening statement! Guard killed the opener and the ensemble sound is excellent. The flute soloist has such a pretty tone. Congratulations on State Finals and on performing an outstanding run.

[Tubalord11]

Incredible performance from Lebanon Trail to open up finals! Love the "River Flows Through You" pre-show!!! Plenty of showcasing of the different ensembles throughout the band as well as full ensemble moments! Guard was a treat to watch, and I love the different snowflakes we get to see throughout the show. Really enjoyed that performance, great final's performance Lebanon Trail!!! 

[LeanderMomma]

I loved the Lebanon Trail show much, especially the ballad and the snowflake shapes they made on the field. 🥰 Great job!!

[TrebleMaker2]

Lebanon Trail, I love this show even more every time I see it! Bravo on a great performance!

[ClutchATX]

3 hours ago, Tailgate88 said:

Huge props to the crazy marching band machine you all have in your district.  It has to be the premier example of a district and parents supporting their kids across an entire district in the country.  I have to wonder though - do you guys start training those kids to march in Junior High?  What about guard - are there colorguard schools the young 'uns start going to like the dance/gymnastics type schools elsewhere?  It's astonishing to me that you all are able to put such a quality product on the field with only 8 hours a week of rehearsal.  I have always though it would be cool if they started teaching some of the marching skills at the Jr. High level, wondering if anyone is actually already doing that?

Anyway, congrats.  Love watching the schools from LISD perform!

 

No marching in middle school but some of the section directors teach middle and highschool so they have the kids for 7 years. 

 

Vandegrift specifically is in a fairly wealthy area of Austin so most of their color gaurd/dance team has been doing it since they were 2 years old. 

 

The rest of the district, the color guard start in the summer before freshman year. The biggest thing is that the older kids are encouraged to really take the younger kids under their wing so the kids want to join. Lots of leadership within the band.