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Keller coming back from early season disappointment to make finals at 6A State and BOA GN. I know that it's been well documented on this forum that they always seem to pull through at the end of the season when it counts, but I thought for sure this would be the year that they missed finals at the end. I'm not sure how they always seem to keep getting better until the last day, but they do.

Here is something I would love to know: Who are the designers for each of the 14 Finalists? Program Coordinator, Drill Writer, Arranger?

Music judge 2 putting Waxahachie in 8th overall and Keller 11th in brass.... I have some questions.

Keller may have the biggest difference between the quality of their performers and the quality of their show this year. Hearing them at Prosper, there is no question that they are still one of the best sounding and playing groups anywhere. You can count on one hand the number of brass sections that could pull off the finale of Mahler 2 on the field, and a couple of them are world class drum corps. They have a lot of really hard and mature content in their show, and will undoubtedly be much cleaner in a week or two. That being said, the quality of design for them is really lacking. The music book doesn't hit emotionally like some of their competitors (or like Keller shows in the past). Their 2nd movement, while technically proficient, is totally forgettable. The oboe duet in the ballad is fantastic, but that great brass section got stuffed in the back of the field for the big arrival. Their closer starts with a great brass feature, but the woodwind moment that follows is really rough. The drill looks as if it came from the mid-2000s. It's a real shame for a group that has all of the tools to be one of the top ensembles in the state that they have a show that just doesn't give them an opportunity to maximize their talents. UIL is a different animal though. Even with the design challenges, if they can really clean this week they have a chance to be one of the top groups at Area B. It's also worth remembering that at state, everything is caption based. They will be high in brass, and if they can clean they should be up there in individual and ensemble visual. Their percussion is playing much better this year as well. Don't count them out yet!

Not the best opening for Keller, but this is exactly the same thing that was said the last two years about them and by the end they still manage to find themselves in finals at the end of the season in SA. I don't think there is any question that Keller has been re-inventing themselves a bit post-covid. They have always played well, but seem to be trying to find their place design-wise in the activity. Having a little insight into their show, I can say that the best moments are in their closer, which wasn't performed on Saturday. That staff and those kids know how to clean and dig every bit out of a show, and I have no doubt that come GN they will find a place in finals on Saturday night.

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Keller was a mess at Area last year and they would be the first ones to tell you that. They turned into themselves when they got to San Antonio, hence the placement change. Early returns this year are that they feel this may be their best show to date. I saw a very early video, but they were moving better and sounding better than I can remember at this point.... ever.

Keller does ballads as well as anyone, but Keller 16 is an all-time great for me. Hebron 15 is legendary of course!

1/2 - Marcus or Keller 3. Wakeland 4. Forney 5. Timber Creek 6. Aledo 7. Haltom 8. Keller Central 9. James Martin 10. Azle 11. Boswell 12. Fossil Ridge Having seen videos of many of these groups, I would say this is my order for now. Marcus and Keller have different approaches with their shows, so we'll see who comes out cleaner. Marcus is a bit edgier than last year, which I love! Keller seems to be getting back to their roots so to speak of doing a big, beautiful show. I will say that they are moving WAY better than they have in the past at this point. As mentioned in other threads, Wakeland's show come across as not as difficult as last year's presentation, but will likely be quite clean. I've got Forney in the top 5 ahead of TC. They are coming on strong, and were a surprise group here last year. The TC video I saw was still pretty messy, so hopefully they can clean up a lot prior to HEB. Aledo always plays SO well, as does Haltom. Keller Central's show is HARD, and I would imagine that they will still have a lot of cleaning to do early in the season.

So now that just about everyone's shows are out there, which are the ones you are most excited to see??

Timber Creek and Keller both had director changes, so counting them as locks may be premature.

I think that BOA DFW and BOA Austin might disagree with you on this one. In terms of parity among the participants there are a LOT of bands that could make finals, but this is likely a two-horse race for the title between Wakeland and Keller. Ironically, both have new directors. I'll be interested to see which of them adapts to their new staff the fastest.

Confirmed Bands as of 7/13/23 Azle H.S., TX Berkner H.S., TX Creekview H.S., TX Duncanville H.S., TX Forney H.S., TX Fossil Ridge H.S., TX Glenn H.S., TX Grapevine H.S., TX Highland Park H.S., TX Keller Central H.S., TX Keller H.S., TX L.D. Bell H.S., TX Lake Highlands H.S., TX Lake Ridge H.S., TX McKinney Boyd H.S., TX McKinney H.S., TX McKinney North H.S., TX Midlothian H.S., TX Mustang H.S., OK Poteet H.S., TX Prosper H.S., TX Robert E. Hendrickson H.S., TX Rock Hill H.S., TX Rockwall H.S., TX Sachse H.S., TX Southlake Carroll H.S., TX Timber Creek H.S., TX Wakeland H.S., TX Walnut Grove H.S., TX Waxahachie H.S., TX Whitesboro H.S., TX

So, both Coppell and Keller had this date listed as a possible contest, and now have something called the Show of Shows on this date. Anyone know what/where that is? I'm guessing it's a local (DFW) contest, but I haven't heard of it before. It it's new, that's a big deal to pull two programs like that late season!

Keller High School (Keller, Tx) Elysium Musical Selections Violin Concerto No. 2 - Samuel Barber All Love Can Be - Charlotte Church (From "A Beautiful Mind") Symphony No. 2 - Gustav Mahler

Keller had a parent meeting Friday night, and it sounds like their motivation for going to Prosper instead of Bedford has to do with the fall break that KISD is doing next year and wanting to give their students and parents a few days off. It will be interesting to see if having 4-5 days of no rehearsal hurts them or having 4-5 days of rest and recharge gives them an edge.

So, based off of last year's results, the next 6 in (if that's how many returning finalists don't attend) would be, in order: 15. James Bowie 16. Leander 17. Timber Creek 18. Keller Central 19. Westlake 20. Waxahachie

Now that this is breaking on HornRank... Word is getting out that a certain well-known district will not be attending the BOASA show this year. If the rumors are true, as many as 6 of last year's finalists will not be attending this year.

Early thoughts on the confirmed Team Texas bands: Locks for Finals: Hebron - Championship Contender. If their visual product can match their incredible players, the sky is the limit! Woodlands - Always innovative, world-class guard. Probably a lock for the top half if they continue with the style from the last couple of seasons. CTJ - Will be interested to see how they do with a new director, but a finalist until they prove they aren't. Round Rock - Breakout year in 2022. Always incredible percussion, but the rest of the band stepped up to join them. Expect great things from them! Keller - Had a "down" year in 2022, and still made finals at BOA SA and 6A State comfortably. One of the best playing groups in the nation. If they bring a great product, they could really make a statement. High Bubble: Pearland - Has really been on the rise the last few years. Hasn't made the jump into the "lock" category for BOA SA and UIL State, which is what gives me pause. However, they will play and move really, really well, and depending on what the national representation is could absolutely knock off a band from another state and make it in! Mid Bubble: James Bowie - Hasn't made BOA SA finals since 2019 or UIL 6A finals since 2014... finished just behind Pearland for the last spot at the Super Regional last year. In another year, they would be a lock but there may be too many heavy-hitters for them to break in. That being said, they did finish 3rd at the Orlando regional last year so we know their product travels! Semi-Finalist: Dripping Springs - They have always played well, and will likely place high in semis. Again, in another year they would be in the mix for finals.

Coppell and Keller both have this date marked on their calendars as a possible marching contest. 🤔

Well, next year will be interesting for sure. I know of four of last year's BOASA finalists who have privately confirmed that they will not be attending next year due to the timing of the UIL 6A State Marching Contest. 😲

Considering programs rising and falling as well as some that have chosen not to attend one of the San Antonio shows because of Grand Nats, there are only 5 programs by my count that have been both 6A SMC and SASR finalists every year since 2015 (excluding the COVID year): Regan, Vandegrift, Keller, Marcus, and Hebron. To say that it's the same bands year in and year out is simply not factual.

Keller with their best run in the Dome so far! I wasn’t digging this show early in the year, but wow wow wow they were fantastic today!!!

Coppell was amazing! Such a fantastic band. Keller was much better in prelims than finals I thought. They were better at DMI the week before IMO as well. They had the amazing misfortune of having to go first in prelims AND finals. I would imagine that with a better run and later in the show that their placement would have been higher given how close the scores ended up being, but who knows.

Keller got pulled out of warmup after about 10 min because the parking lot lights wouldn’t come on and had to warm up in the stadium in pretty steady rain 😕.