Porters4

Never bet against Joni Perez.
The best in the business.

Hebron band parent here.  Thank you for all the kind words and support these past days.  It’s truly an honor to be chosen the winner among an amazing field of exceptional bands in our state.  We are celebrating but are excited to cheer for our fellow LISD and other TX bands going to Grand Nats!  Show them what band in Texas is all about! 

oh, people who think effect is derived from props and pageantry… 
tools don’t build a house unless you use em right

correct: 246 - 20-30 each area - between 35-40 state prelims and 12 state finalist. 

So yes, top 12 is a very high honor! even 20 would be great. 

@justabandkid94 You are wise - many kids and parents read the posts. Most do not comment. While it is good practice for all to learn to embrace critique and praise simultaneously  - it is always helpful to remember just about everyone is working towards the same thing - being great at marching band. The variance of opinions is exciting - it is no different judging. The mix of adjudicators with different opinions - the audience reaction - all of it keeps a contest interesting.
 
There is also a great benefit in not taking anything too seriously - or too personally - when it comes to rankings, ratings, opinions, etc. It’s an art form, it will always be subjective - there will always be some who love, some who hate - but … as long as they’re talking? Well, that’s pretty cool!

I think we can talk about differences in design approach in a way that doesn't pick one group up while diminishing the achievement of another. We continually say Hebron this, CTJ that, but each one of these school names have real people behind them. Realize that the kids performing the sh*t out of these shows have no control over the way their school's design team chooses to navigate artistic expression -- they simply take what they're given and infuse every ounce of their being into it. Whatever the method, it has merit purely because of the dedication behind it

Vandegrift is your National Champion!!  Let's celebrate them and all six Texas finalists at Grand Nationals!

Claudia Taylor Johnson - "The Circle of Life", 6th Place (93.25)
 
Oh. My. God. This show was a party!!! I liked it in San Antonio, but they kicked up the energy ten notches since then and made some nice changes, the most obvious of which was the back and forth between the saxophone and trombone soloists who were just NAILS. The crowd reaction that got after that was incredible, and they still had three or four minutes of show left! I Just Can’t Wait to Be King was easily the heart of that show, and they made everyone fall in love with them. The energy that they perform their music and choreography with is second to none, they are performers in every sense of the word. They definitely saved their best performance of the season for finals too, they were on fire. Thank you for entertaining and blowing us all away, it was incredible. 
 

 
Leander - "Radioactive", 5th Place (94.3)
 
This is easily my favorite Leander show ever, they were so masterful at building tension and releasing it throughout that show, and the closer was the prime example of that in the show. As soon as that countdown timer hit zero and the Oppenheimer quote played they blew the house down. That was a FINALE. And that was all courtesy of the performers, a show is only as good as the kids performing it and they sold it. Amazing musical performance from them, that show is HARD and they had some of the best moments I’ve ever heard from them over the weekend. I hope they keep up these kinds of shows, because it was a blast.
 

 
Carmel - "Eternal Beloved", 4th Place (94.575)
 
Finally got to see Carmel live! Even if it wasn’t a four peat for them I can still see why they were so dominant, they do so many things well musically and visually. Their musicality is breathtaking at times, some sublime entrances, releases, builds, etc. Thought this show really came together at GN, I LOVE the front half of the show especially. Guard is still going strong, ESPECIALLY that male featured performer, he’s incredible. And shout out to that soloist, it’s not easy carrying that much of the show on your back, and finals was easily the best performance of that I heard, so great job! 
 

 
Hebron - "Among the Stars", 3rd Place/Music (95.55)
 
Full honesty time, when I saw this show live the first time in Duncanville on the 26th of October, I didn’t think they could clean it. Hebron has some of the best kids on the planet but this show was HARD HARD HARD, closer especially. Even in San Antonio I was seeing progress but not sure if it would be able to peak. Well, GN finals happened, and it did. Far and away their best performance of the season. They reached for the stars on this one, one of the hardest HS shows I’ve ever seen. They really kicked up the visual difficulty this year in addition to the bonkers musical stuff as well, great job there. Loved the way Impossible Dream was woven throughout and finally shined in the closer, and as always amazing job by their soloists. 
 

 
Avon - "unBaroquen", 2nd Place/Visual (96.7)
 
After prelims, I didn’t think this was getting beat. This show was seamless perfection, every single thing in there like the eight perfect notes was perfectly placed and performed. Very tight musical performance, their trumpet section especially was fantastic. But visually, oh man. Best high school colorguard I have ever seen, by a lot. The tosses, clarity, energy, etc. was just all top tier. If there was a guard caption, this would surely win it. And they are running that whole show and making it look effortless, I’d make it about a minute into that show and pass out. They are amazing. I’ve also heard how they kick things up on finals night, and boy did they do it, that performance was something special. Part of me is shocked that didn’t win, but when I watched who did, it’s just a testament to how amazing this season was. 
 

 
Vandegrift - "Aria, Queen of the Night", 1st Place/General Effect (97.175)
 
Pure. That’s the word that comes to mind. If you take away the mostly aesthetic props this show was just a band marching and playing at the top tier. I’ll gush about music in a second but they can MARCH. Individual technique was sublime and their form control was about as good as I’ve seen in the HS world. And that dance, team, couldn’t think of a better theme for them to encapsulate. The way this band plays is just everything I want in a band. The tone, alignment, clarity, and just everything about how they play is jaw dropping. And then they shape, phrase, and interpret that playing better than anyone else in my eyes. Loved their interpretation of the Lacrimosa ballad, there was an attitude to it that was aided so well by their incredible and musical drumline and that top tier trombone soloist, that arrival in the ballad was easily one of the better constructed and executed moments of the season. I love props and electronics and costuming when they’re used right, but I am glad this show won. Huge congratulations on an incredible first attendance to GN, I certainly hope it’s not the last. 
 

 
All in all an amazing weekend, the bands, the parents, the environment, the performances, and the experience was incredible to be a part of. I am already planning on going in 2020, there is a lot said on the comparison between GN and San Antonio, and having done both I can say you will get very different experiences that are both equally special, but there is just something about GN that felt special. So glad I got to experience it with some amazing people too, feel so fortunate to be able to contribute to the live blog and work alongside that group. What an amazing way to conclude an amazing 2019 marching season, already excited for 2020! 

While we're talking about awards and such, may I just say how deserving it was for CTJ's band to receive the Albert J Castronovo Esprit de Corp award. Those band kids are often the first to congratulate whoever is the champion of any contest regardless of CTJ's placement. They, along with members of Hebron, Avon, and members of a few other bands sat through Vandegrift's encore performance, giving several standing ovations along the way.
 
I truly believe the best part of band isn't the music or the marching, it's the foundation that it builds for fantastic human beings. CTJ's band is a shining example of that wherever they go and whatever they're doing.

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate Leander running through Hebron to get to Vandy after they broke ranks? I loved that

And I have no idea if the trombone player for CTJ or his parent or anyone affiliated with him are on this board....BUT....
 
If that kid does ANYTHING but share his musical talent in adult career, it will be a waste.  I've seen some other-generational, high school talent before but that kid was far and away the best player I've ever seen.  I was speechless watching that feature. 
 
And someone tweeted that it was improv???  Are...you....kidding me?!?!? 
 
Seriously, I would hate to see talent like that wasted on something other than a music career.

Omg that's hilarious! It's pretty normal for the winning band to freak out when they break ranks, but I've never seen the other bands swarm the winners like that! Even the Woodlands were getting in there! In that moment you can tell all those kids forgot they were in different bands and spent the whole season trying to beat each other. I think Vista Ridge would have been swarmed by all the bands if they were in the middle! This is one of the best marching band moments of all time and truly epitomizes everything great about this activity. Congratulations to everyone!

Just to share an eco-friendly and perhaps easier way to travel to/from the Alamodome this weekend - we do have bike share in San Antonio with SwellCycle - there are several stations all around downtown.
 
https://sanantonio.bcycle.com/
 
There are also the new "Bird" scooters
 
Just suggestions for those daring enough to try it - fun way to see the city too.

We went into the Red Oak Wal-Mart for an hour to shelter. We’re headed back to Dallas now. It’s been a wild Saturday! The kids have been really patient. I wish we could’ve marched but we had fun at ##BOAWalmart.

This is the best thing I’ve seen on this website