principalagent

Avon's show may (also) be a reference to its school colors - black and gold.

For what it's worth, BOA did dissolve the first break and Stony Point will go on at 9:15

I'm not willing to predict outright at this point, but would rather put bands into bands (heh) in alphabetical order. Top Three: James Bowie Leander Round Rock Middle: Cedar Park Vandegrift Vista Ridge Inner Bubble: Cedar Ridge Dripping Springs Westlake Outer Bubble: Aledo Hendrickson* Winston Churchill While I think Bowie is probably still the favorite to win, I wouldn't be shocked or surprised in the least to see the other two win, and I'm sure one of them will snag a caption without a tie.

Question - does anyone know where Vandegrift and Vista Ridge will be class wise? 3A ends at 1700 and 4A is open at 1701 for grades 10-12. Doing rough math, that means the border for a class jump would be at about 2267 for a four-year school (disregarding the fact that there are usually more freshmen than seniors at a given school). I know the district's projections has both schools at or above this number for this year, so does anyone have insight? Easing up 3A would be nice, and I think both Vandegrift and Vista Ridge are more than capable of challenging for a class placement in 4A.

I would throw Wagner and maybe Harlingen in that group too, but pretty much.

8:45 Stony Point H.S., TX 9:00 Break 9:30 Burnet H.S., TX 9:45 Brackenridge H.S., TX 10:00 Robert E. Lee H.S., TX 10:15 Anderson H.S., TX 10:30 Earl Warren H.S., TX 10:45 Leander H.S., TX 11:00 Westlake H.S., TX 11:15 Pflugerville H.S., TX 11:30 Break 12:15 McCallum H.S., TX 12:30 Seven Lakes H.S., TX 12:45 Round Rock H.S., TX 1:00 Cuero H.S., TX 1:15 Hendrickson H.S., TX 1:30 Cedar Ridge H.S., TX 1:45 Winston Churchill H.S., TX 2:00 Dripping Springs H.S., TX 2:15 Break 2:45 Westwood H.S., TX 3:00 East View H.S., TX 3:15 Cedar Park H.S., TX 3:30 Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, TX 3:45 Vandegrift H.S., TX 4:00 Vista Ridge H.S., TX 4:15 Aledo H.S., TX 4:30 James Bowie H.S., TX 5:00 Presentation of Awards Judges: Music - Matt Harloff, Travis Moddison, Chester Phillips, Todd Zimbelman Visual - Ken Giese, Nola Jones, Robert Solomon Chief Judge - Gary Markham

Holy heck. Johnson's drill book is tough not only by Texas standards, but national standards. Not only that, the execution is at an incredibly high level for August. When they go to Grand Nationals again, the Indiana bands and Broken Arrow need to watch out because the visual caption is not promised anymore. Also, Wakeland's woodwinds are ON FIRE and the guard work looks awesome. They'll definitely have something to say about LISD sweeping at state again and should be a force in BOA too.

I'm very, very confident in these predictions I made in another thread after watching Leander and Vista Ridge's initial videos

Here's an email I got from the CEO of Music For All: Dear Supporter and Valued Customer: This communication is intended to update and provide you with the latest information concerning the provision and delivery of Bands of America commemorative videos. First, the latest change… Music for All Video (On-line streaming video subscriptions) • Effective August 11, 2015 the Music for All subscription online video program is discontinued. New subscriptions will not be offered or sold until further notice. We are working to determine appropriate actions/next steps concerning unexpired subscriptions. Next steps will depend, in part, on the results of ongoing discussions with copyright holders to resolve past and present licensing issues and the negotiated terms and conditions for providing future video commemoratives/services. Persons who have time remaining on existing annual subscriptions (as of August 11th) will be contacted when MFA finalizes its plan and procedures. Unshipped Fall 2014 DVD Products • Music for All (through its licensee Mr. Video) has not shipped orders for videos of some events occurring on or after October 18, 2014. We have and continue to be in negotiations with certain music rights holders for licensing necessary to complete Fall 2014 videos. Keeping in mind that the majority of music is licensed, efforts to license remaining titles continue. We have not been able to obtain some agreements for licenses that are economically feasible, suitable or sustainable in our current DVD and streaming product models. Persons with existing pre-paid orders will have their DVDs shipped with all unlicensed music muted. Email communication will be sent when your DVD has been shipped. Mr. Video expects to start shipping by the end of August. If and when we complete negotiations with rights holders to license the remaining music, we will ship replacement DVDs with this music un-muted. Fall 2015 Offerings We continue to seek agreements and a structure by which we can continue to offer video commemoratives of Bands of America events. To date, we can report: • Music for All will record and provide a high camera video recording of each performance at Bands of America events and deliver it to the respective director on-site (for evaluation and use in future instruction). • Music for All is working and expects (as in the past) to offer live, multi-camera streams of its Super Regional and Grand Nationals performances. At this time, we expect to offer such performances on an individual and/or season subscription basis for live viewing only. Please stay tuned for future announcements concerning this offering. • Music for All will continue to pursue strategies and terms that will allow us to record and offer to parents, students and fans video commemoratives consistent and in compliance with U.S. copyright laws and the requirements of music rights holders. We are working to provide such services in 2015 in collaboration with Tresona Music to create a platform that will, at a minimum allow Music for All/Bands of America to offer properly licensed post event streaming and downloads of performances at Bands of America events. Please stay tuned for future announcements concerning this potential offering. Background/Overview Music for All has consistently sought to operate in compliance with U.S. Copyright laws and the rights and wishes of composers and rights holders, to offer commemoratives in the best and most desirable formats available to participants, families and fans. It has done so using a model that offers this content at the lowest possible costs to those we serve with little to no residual direct, net economic return to MFA. 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Questions/More Information Should you have unanswered questions or concerns, please contact us at 800.636.2263 or info@musicforall.org. -- Eric L. Martin, Esq./CFEE President & Chief Executive Officer Music for All, Inc. and its operating divisions: Bands of America and Orchestra America 39 W. Jackson Place, Suite 150 Indianapolis, IN 46225 317.636.2263 800.848.2263 (Toll Free) 317.538.8142 (Mobile) 317.218.4901 (Fax) Music for All's MISSION is to create, provide and expand positively life-changing experiences through music for all. Our VISION is to be a catalyst to ensure that every child across America has access and opportunity to engage in active music making in his or her scholastic environment.

Here are a couple I'm thinking. Storylines: Return to old design staff - Reagan and LD Bell, while still great, aren't what they were last decade after a few director and design team changes. Returning to Guidry and Cartwright, respectively, may help bump both schools both were. This is something worth watching. Changing of the Guard - Neither Marcus nor Bell medaled for the second year in a row at BOA San Antonio, and the competition had a new champion from a relatively new school. TWHS also didn't medal after winning Grand Nationals the year before. Another strong year by schools like Leander, Hebron, Flower Mound, Vandegrift, and CTJ could continue this trend. (Subplot - Bowie's consistency through this changing). Predictions (pretty safe for now): - BOA Austin and San Antonio have new champions - All 5A LISD bands advance to finals in all events attended - Furthermore, Area D sweeps medals again at 5A State - The Austin area will again have the plurality of BOA San Antonio finalists, if not a majority, including at least one medalist - A 2A band will make San Antonio Finals for the first time - Hebron and TWHS flip spots between San Antonio and Grand Nationals - Texas has two new Grand National finalists. - Both returning finalists will make it again, yet won't place as high as 2013. - A Grand National Finalist from a recent year will miss San Antonio finals.

More fun - the breakdown of BOA SA Finalists and UIL State Finalists under this new alignment is (with old numbers in parentheses) BOA: Area B - 1 (4) Area C - 3 (0) Area D - 2 (9) Area E - 7 (0) Area F - 1 (1) UIL Area A - 0 (1) Area B - 2 (3) Area C - 3 (2) Area D - 1 (3) Area E - 3 (0) Area F - 1 (1) This is an interesting way to see that the spread has become a bit more even, and that Area E is still probably going to be a very dominant area, considering its depth between both 5A and 6A.

Just speculating off of last year, State in 2016 with these areas (barring school splits, director changes, class moves up/down etc) would look something like Area A: Coronado, El Dorado, San Angelo Central Area B: Coppell, Bell, Haltom, Keller Area C: Marcus, Hebron, Flower Mound Area D: Duncanville, Round Rock, Cedar Ridge, Westwood, Hendrickson Area E: Bowie, CTJ, Reagan, Westlake, Anderson Area F: TWHS, College Park, Spring, Cy Falls, Cy-Fair, North Shore Area G: Brazoswood, Pearland, Friendswood, Dickinson, SFA, Clements Area H: Judson, Harlingen, Wagner, Hanna, Lopez, San Benito which is about 38 bands at State, one more than 2014 (however, it would have been 38 if it were not for zoning in Area A). It's very clear now that Houston wins big time, the I-35 corridor relaxes a little bit, and Dallas becomes a bit worse off. South Texas also becomes worse off under this scenario. However, chances are that none of 2014's finalists would magically miss with this new zoning without other new developments.

TMEA and UIL are working on the new region and area expansion (to 33 regions and 8 areas) and realignment. You can see what they're proposing here: http://align.tmea.org/index.php for more, but beware that it's a pretty slow website. Disclaimer that UIL and TMEA often break areas up separately (like now, they're in many ways different and not too sensical - especially TMEA D), but I would suppose they would start off the same or nearly so in 2016. Here's what I've noticed so far: Area A: Not much change in this area. They moved the North and West Ft Worth suburbs out of the area, which makes it easier for the West Texas schools to advance to state and helps travel times as well. However, there are fewer state advancement spots in the bigger classes. It's also worth noting that zoning this Area like they did in 2014 would probably result in one fewer advancement spot. Winners: Pretty much everyone. Losers: Pretty much everyone if they zone the larger classes. Area B: Some huge changes here. Most notably, Lewisville ISD (Marcus, Hebron, FloMo) all got moved out, and Coppell got moved in from C along with the Keller schools from A. This Area ultimately only got slightly easier to advance out of (if at all), and is still projected to pretty much only have about 4 advancers. The Area still stays large for 5A, with a couple of new competitors from old A as well. Winners: Keller ISD Losers: Nobody in particular. Area C: Another huge shakeup. The Area loses its anchor in Dallas and becomes much more expansive of North Texas. With Duncanville and Coppell gone, one would think it easier for some schools on the edge of advancing to become more competitive - namely North Mesquite, Sasche, and Lake Highlands within the past few cycles. However, moving in Marcus, Hebron and Flower Mound makes this Area a fair bit harder to advance out of than it was. Again with Area B, this area would likely only have four advancers (and honestly, maybe three), creating the same issues Area C had with clear heirs apparent year in and out. Winners: Nobody really. This Area may actually become more difficult than it already was. Losers: Everyone. Think about the close calls Coppell and Duncanville have had in old Area C. Can you imagine Hebron or Marcus missing? Area D: Probably the largest shake up. It begins to look like old TMEA Area D, minus the North Houston suburbs. It's also worth noting that the Pflugerville schools were moved to Region 26, displacing the Leander schools. This district becomes Dallas proper down to Northeast Austin suburbs out to the Louisiana border, encompassing a wide range of schools and probably only allowing 5, maybe four advancers. However, leaving out NE ISD from San Antonio and Austin proper eases the competition a bit in exchange for effectively just Duncanville. Winners: Bands that just missed advancing from Area D recently like Round Rock and Hendrickson, but they'll still have to compete. Losers: Area D will still be tough as nails to get out of, just by virtue of the current strength of the Northeast Austin schools. However, the race for finals should ease up. Area E: Pretty much a new area, taking the Western part of Central Texas now. Leander ISD and Dripping Springs are in very tough shape now, as this area will likely only advance three in 5A with probably the best five bands in the classification (note: this may get better or worse depending on LISD growth). However, those three, barring any new developments, will pretty much be set to sweep medals. The schools of old area D also get more breathing room in this area for 6A. This area should advance five. Watch this area to be the growth of marching in Texas for the rest of the decade, like Houston in the 90s and DFW in the 00s. Winners: Like new Area D, the bands who were on the edge in old Area D like Anderson and Churchill, unless LISD schools start moving back up to 6A. Losers: Leander ISD and Dripping Springs, big time. Northside ISD schools who have to compete in a tougher area with fewer advancing spots. Also, if enough LISD schools move back up to 6A, then this area becomes really not much better than old D. Area F: No major changes here, except for this is more North Houston than everything-but-directly-west-of Houston now, with the Cy schools taking over for schools like Brazoswood, Friendswood, Pearland/Dawson and the Clear schools - probably slightly easier for Area F. Besides A and new H, this may be the most inconsequential realignment. Winners: I think with a more expansive second Houston area, yet retaining it's size, most everyone wins. Losers: Nobody really loses either. Honor Band should get a little more fun with Jersey Village and Langham Creek in the mix, but still maybe lighter with Brazoswood and Friendswood out. Some Cy schools will have a tougher road to State marching, but have more advancement spots to play around with than in old Area E. Area G: Don't let 49 schools fool you. Many of these schools, unfortunately, will not advance to area, but this area will still advance about 6 (7?) to state, giving Katy and Ft Bend schools much more breathing room, especially with Cy-Fair out. Regions 17 and 19 and Brazoswood also move out of a slightly crowded F to new G, also allowing them a bit more room too. It seemed as if Metro Houston had too few spots in the old alignment relative to Dallas, and this evens the score a ton. Winners: Everyone. Losers: Nobody. Area H: Pretty much old G, but with East San Antonio schools instead of West and North ones. Also not a huge change, but one or two fewer spots to advance from. Winners: Judson ISD for sure gets a great deal here. Losers: Eh. These are just my thoughts and speculation. Like I said, this can still change and UIL may pick a different alignment altogether. Any other thoughts? Especially on 5A, which I glossed over except for Area E?

To offer a couple more, some directors also really like to grow programs and move on when a program is very solid. Other times, a spouse or other desire to live in a different area may necessitate a move. There are so many potential reasons out there that it's not always a foul.

Cedar Park was established I think in 1998 and won in 2001. Vista Ridge was established in 2003 and made finals in 2007. Vandegrift established in 2009 and finals in 2011 (and dangerously close to state in 2009 - first alternate). Of course, Leander is much older - 1899 - so it took a while. Rouse was established in 2008, but hasn't made it to state yet. Looks like about three or so years. On a side note, Leander has an IB magnet that upticks its numbers a not insignificant bit from the projected campus plans.

Leander is both a former Grand National (1999) and 5A(6A) State finalist (1996, 2000).

San Antonio As of: April 29, 2015 Aledo H.S., TX Alvin H.S., TX Anderson H.S., TX Archbishop Alter H.S., OH Azle H.S., TX Brazoswood H.S., TX Calallen H.S., TX Cedar Park H.S., TX Cedar Ridge H.S., TX Claudia Taylor Johnson H.S., TX Coppell H.S., TX Cy-Fair H.S., TX Dickinson H.S., TX Douglas MacArthur H.S., TX Dripping Springs H.S., TX Earl Warren H.S., TX Edinburg H.S., TX Flower Mound H.S., TX Friendswood H.S., TX Hebron H.S., TX Hendrickson H.S., TX Hidalgo H.S., TX James Bowie H.S., TX James Madison H.S., TX James Martin H.S., TX Juarez-Lincoln H. S., TX Katy H.S., TX Keller Central H.S., TX Keller H.S., TX Leander H.S., TX Lehman H.S., TX Louis D. Brandeis H.S., TX Lubbock-Cooper H.S., TX Mansfield H.S., TX Marcus H.S., TX Mathis H.S., TX Morton Ranch H.S., TX North Shore Senior H.S., TX Oak Ridge H.S., TX Owasso H.S., OK Palmview H.S., TX Pflugerville H.S., TX Plano East Senior H.S., TX Rivera H.S., TX Robert E. Lee H.S., TX Roma H.S., TX Ronald Reagan H.S., TX Round Rock H.S., TX Rouse H.S., TX Sandra Day O'Connor H.S., TX Seven Lakes H.S., TX Spring H.S., TX Stephen F. Austin H.S., TX The Woodlands College Park H.S., TX The Woodlands H.S., TX United H.S., TX United South H.S., TX Vandegrift H.S., TX Vista Ridge H.S., TX Wagner H.S., TX Wakeland H.S., TX Waller H.S., TX Westlake H.S., TX Crowded field like always. Maybe even more than last year

On a brighter note, Keller's (and a couple of other band's) chances of making finals just shot way up over the past week.

Rumor now has it that Cedar Ridge is out too, although still yet to be publicly confirmed.

I don't know why, but that's what the BOA website says for both the Atlanta Super Regional (which precludes San Antonio) and Grand Nationals.

So Bell pulled out of Nationals and won't be at San Antonio either.

I'm curious about if the five bands going to Atlanta will end up boxing each other out. I know that was a real concern a couple years ago when three bands went (but all made finals), but Atlanta is getting to be a tougher super-regional as well. As for GN, I'm thinking its going to be four Texas bands in finals (but I would love, love, love to be wrong on that). Additionally, I think we'll see at least one band who has always made finals miss. The bubble is a bit too strong this year, I feel.

State alternates based on classification. All of the LISD bands in the conversation are 5A and have state this fall. The 6A bands, however, do have state in 2016.

I would be more shocked if Area D doesn't sweep again than if they did.

There are some pretty obvious ones. Hebron plays very heavy technical passages throughout their shows, The Woodlands often incorporates more popular music along with esoteric 20th century art music, Marcus plays a very true to the page classical music book. CTJ pushes the envelope, especially visually. Round Rock plays music that caters to their bigger, bulkier sound with drill that covers the field to match. Cedar Park usually plays and marches hard music and drill with few other frills.