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Well in Area I a state finalist could end up 19th, still make finals(somehow?) and end up getting 5th at state finals. Wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen next year LOL

This incredible contest will be held on Saturday, October 11 at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex. Here are some of the confirmed attending bands based on information obtained from their band calendars. As of 5/27/25: Austin HS Cedar Ridge HS (hosting; exhibition only) John B Alexander HS Leander HS McNeil HS Ronald Reagan HS Round Rock HS Rouse HS Tom Glenn HS Vandegrift HS Vista Ridge HS

We're certainly open to updating how the game works to support Winter Guard, but I'd need some recommendations on how to make it work. Also, our traffic after marching season declines significantly so I'm not sure how much interest there would be.

design analysis was actually Arcadia's best caption at SD. can now see why. clean, clear, logical, correct, connected, musical. tbh expected that to be the case based on the designers and what i saw downstairs. woodlands is def a lil more chaotic... well, in the opener at least, when the flags are kinda distracting and i dont know where to look. gaudy pink practice flags don't help. other parts are fine. def they have the kids running around more than in arcadia, which on the one hand is rlly impressive, but need to be careful w/ that, w/ clarity and timing. find woodlands more effective overall, just a much bigger emotional impact, with plenty to tickle the brain and eyes as well. buuut the effect judges could lean hard into aesthetics. thinkin that's prob what happened b/w Carmel and Tarpon in 2023. don't really know how else to explain those effect results, when Tarpon clearly gave a better performance of a more emotionally impactful show, that clearly connected more w/ the audience. felt a lil contrarian tbh. like, c'mon man, those kids killed it!!! either one this yr b/w A&W would be a first-time champion, which id be thrilled with. warren central would be a first-time medalist, which would also be super cool. been a looooong time since we've seen a top 3 w/o Avon or Carmel.

On a completely unrelated note: this might be the most active forum on all of TX bands.

Man, i was just joking around... I was not betting on who would win but rather the werids things that might happen

Even though it’s WAY too early, these are my thoughts going into this new year Wakeland is going to be on fire after being knocked off the podium at state and I’m confident that they’ll have a great bounce back especially now that they’ve had time to settle in with their new director Lone Star will also be taking large leaps this year I can assume. Last year they put together an expertly executed show and I can bet you that this year will be even better. They’re going for Wakeland’s first place title and the race is definitely getting closer and closer every year McKinney North is the jazziest band in almost all of Texas and I’m 90% sure they’re confirmed to be doing a jazz show once again next year. They have a recipe for greatness and I have no doubt that it will create another amazing production. I’m curious if their placement might change this year but I’m not too sure. I’ve never fully understood how UIL judges score Jazzy and unique shows Argyle in contrast to MN has been calm, mellow, and clean for the past years and it finally booked them a ticket to state last year. They know what they’re doing and exactly how to do it so It wouldn’t shock me if they took steps up to create a show that still can be cleaned incredibly well but also something heads can be turned at for difficulty Lebanon Trail has fire in their eyes after being beat to state. The kids at LT are incredibly talented and their band is giant. They’ve got the skill, the numbers, the sound, the staff, and the creativity to make something even more fascinating than ever done before. Reedy is my coin toss band, I know very little about them and I know they’re on year 3 of their new director. They had great placements all year this past season and I can assume they’ll be doing a lot more in the visual aspect of playing now that their full band sound has filled out. Overall I was pleasantly surprised with the reedy band show and I can’t wait to see what next year has in store. Memorial, Heritage, and Liberty are all really small for their 5A division. We’ll see this year how they’ll continue to grow with numbers but there’s no doubt that these programs are talented. They know what’s up and their placements show it. I wouldn’t count them out of the final conversation due to size and I’m curious to how these bands will continue to size up to the bigger schools in this area Walnut Grove is most likely ready to bring it. After 2 years of “shelf” shows they seem like they might be ready to test the waters of a stronger show. They’re also on their 2nd year with a new director much like reedy was last year. I’ve heard quite a bit of how their director led Highland Park to a 1st placement at 5A state in 2019. Prosper schools are notoriously fast growing and really great at band so I’m beyond curious on what WG has in store for this upcoming year. Heritage is crazy with their train and I’m looking forward to seeing if they’ll keep it for one more year. I personally have loved their past two shows and the performances they’ve made with each have been quite the enjoyment. Another Frisco school will definitely bring the heat next year. Emerson, Melissa, The Colony, Etc… didn’t get the results they may have wanted last year but they are by no means out of the conversation. It’s an incredibly deep area and any of those bands could make a feel finals run. Every year’s a new year and these bands are the ones who have the most to prove.

omg y'all are right. those WERE judges who were wildin'. i subconsciously wrote them off as eager guard parents supportin' their girlies LMAO.

Also in Georgetown! Scholastic National A: (1) Leander HS 74.070 (WOO HOO!) (2) Hutto HS 73.680 (3) Vista Ridge HS 72.900 (4) Westwood High School 72.010 (5) Rouse HS 71.310 (6) Hendrickson HS Varsity 70.550 (7) Cedar Park HS Varsity 68.930 (8) Liberty Hill HS 65.640 Scholastic Open: (1) James Bowie HS 73.900 (2) Cedar Ridge HS 70.600

I’m thinking strongly about attending this contest this year instead of the BOA Austin Regional.

Texas has a very unique situation. There are tons of really great bands spread out over the whole State. It's almost impossible to create a system that will allow every single "deserving" program to advance to the State Marching Contest. Having as close to equal representation across the Areas is about as fair as you can get without going down the rabbit hole of suggesting that certain Areas deserve more opportunity than others. Again, it's a very unique situation. I promise you that other states don't have to deal with this. I do think that the changing of the Area judging system has the potential to reward some programs we haven't seen at State yet. I'm excited for the changes!

Totally agree. I hate the Eight Minute Rule. But the Football people aren't going to allow the Music people to get away with shows longer than eight minutes because that would impact the football players' performance after Halftime.

An early prediction for this regional just using past scores and stuff SRA Sonia Sotomayor HS JV, TX Iowa Colony HS, TX Westwood HS JV, TX SA Dripping Springs HS, TX The Woodlands HS A, TX Jordan HS TX, Tomball Memorial HS, TX Louis D.Brandies HS, TX IA Redemption Guard, TX Tarleton State University Purple Pride, TX SO Westlake HS, TX Pearland HS, TX James Bowie HS, TX IO Undaunted, TX Industry Independent, TX SW The Woodlands HS, TX Flower Mound HS, TX IW Invictus, TX

Here’s my take: It’s honestly not as much of a deal people make it out to be. I don’t want to get into the nastiness I had experienced when the rule changes were announced cause that’s a different ballpark. Anyway! According to Tarek (2024 Troopers Head Drum Major) via Instagram stories, the harmonica solo in 2023 took so many loopholes to make the harmonica solo possible. The rules gives a clear possibility for solos to be listed as such and no more dancing around the rules for that to be possible. If they have to include woodwinds cause eventually someone wants an oboe solo, then so be it. If they want an aux solo, then so be it. It was bound to happen eventually, genuinely you cannot prevent the inevitable. As for woodwinds being soloists, corps will probably do what the Troopers (yes another example) did for the guitar soloist this past season. He was contracted as a mellophone, but they were able to find use in his ability for the guitar. It is very likely a woodwind soloist wouldnt be contracted for the sole purpose of being a soloist, they’ll get contracted for a brass instrument (like baritone) but prove their abilities on other instruments (like clarinet or sax). The possibilities are genuinely endless. I feel this gives more opportunities and insentive for woodwinds to do DCI: by giving them opportunities to prove themselves on their originating instrument. Along with that, there will be so many more creative opportunities these next few seasons, and I certainly am excited on the direction corps may take with this rule.

Amazing season and congratulations to all our finalist and our other corps! So many wonderful shows top to bottom, I think Phantom was my favorite, but Bloo and BAC were not close behind! BD had some solid moments and ofc executed so well, SCV had a fire comeback season, Mandarines had such a FUN show, loved colts music book, troopers were just WOW, Cavies show was not their best, but they still looked and sounded great, and was super happy to have Scouts back in finals! Overall probably my favorite season since 17, so sad it’s over but I’m already looking forward to next season!!!