Jeffrey L. Gorman

Actually it is more than just Traditionalists who are against changing the judging. There is a strong feeling among the 1A, 2A & 3A Schools against changing the current scoring system. Most of the directors do not want to Add Visual Ratings in place of the M&M. The fact is that most of the smaller schools are at a extreme disadvantage using this judging system. They do not have the funds to spend on the props and designer costumes used by most of the big schools. These feelings are very strong among schools in rural areas. You may see different judging sheets for Different classes and styles of Bands. Florida already does this. By the way, in UIL it is one vote per school. While I am sure the majority of 5A & 6A Bands are in favor of these changes(Military Style Bands will vote against it though), there are many small school Bands and they will have their say.

Results of the El Paso ISD Marching Invitational held on Oct 6th 2018 School Rating Franklin I Riverside I Parkland I Canutillo III Hanks I Bel Air I Horizon II Eastwood II Del Valle I Eastlake I Ysleta II Socorro II Anthony III Mountain View I Fabens III Clint III Bowie III Irvin I Burgess I San Elizario II El Paso II Austin III Anderes II Jefferson Silva II Chapin II Americas I Coronado I

Marcus is going to the Mesquite Contest on the 6th. If the new director is from the Mesquite ISD he may be trying to show his old school his new Band. He also may not be as enamored of BOA as previous folks are. Mesquite ISD does not send a lot of Bands to BOA Events.The play in the evening and there are no prelims. They will probably win the event.

Lineup for the Battle at the Berry Center, Cypress, TX 13 Oct 2018 9:15 Cy Lakes 9:30 Northbrook 9:45 Spring 10:00 Eisenhower 10:15 Memorial 10:30 Travis 10:45 Angleton 11:00 Conroe Break 12:30 Louise 12:45 Stratford 1: 00 Spring Woods 1: 15 Cy Springs 1: 30 Cy Creek 1: 45 Bridgeland 2: 00 Cy Ridge Exhibition & Host Band 2: 30 Cy Ranch 2: 45 Langham Creek 3: 00 Cy Fair 3: 15 Sam Houston State University Marching Band in Exhibition. Due to Football games scheduled at the Berry Center on Sat evenings, the results of the morning contest will be the finals and will be announced after the Sam Houston Marching Exhibition.

Lineup for the Midway ISD Marching Preview(Midway is located in Hewitt) a Suburb of Waco on Oct 6, 2018 10:15 Wortham 2A 10:30 Bosqueville 2A 10:45 Troy 3A 11:00 McGregor 3A 11:15 Lorena 4A Break 12:30 China Springs 4A 12:45 La Vega 4A 1: 00 Gatesville 4A 1: 15 Salado 4A 1: 30 Mexia 4A Break 2: 00 Rudder 5A 2: 15 Corsicana 5A 2: 30 A&M Consol 5A 2: 45 Harker Heights 6A 3: 00 Temple 6A 3: 15 Ellison, Kill 6A Break 3: 45 University Waco 5A 4: 00 Copperas Cove 6A 4: 15 DeSoto 6A 4: 30 Shoemaker 6A 4: 45 Eastview 5A 5: 00 Killeen 6A 5: 15 Midway Exhibition 5:30 Announcement of Finalistss 7PM Finals Beglin

Listings for the Mesquite ISD Marching Festival on Oct 6th at Memorial Stadium 10:30 Eustace 3A 10:45 Mabank 4A 11:00 Canton 4A 11:15 Garland 6A 11:30 North Forney 5A 11:45 Midlothian 5A 12:45 Marshall 5A 1: 00 Kemp 3A 1: 15 Grand Saline 3A 1: 30 Malakoff 3A 1: 45 Rio Vista 3A 2: 00 Palmer 3A 2:30 Tenaha 2A 2: 45 Commerce 3A 3: 00 Quinlan Ford 4A 3: 15 Caddo Mills 4A 3: 30 Crandall 4A 3: 45 S. Garland 5A 4: 00 West Mesquite 5A 4: 30 Forney 5A 4: 45 Cooper, Abilene 5A 5: 00 Greenville 5A 5: 15 Terrell 5A 5: 30 Cayuga 2A 5:45 Mesquite 6A 6PM Announcing Ratings for 2A, 3A & 4A Bands 7:00 Abilene 6A 7:15 Rockwall 6A 7:30 North Garland 6A 7:45 Rockwall Heath 6A 8:00 John Horn 6A 8:15 Marcus, FM 6A 8:30 North Mesquite 6A 8:45 Poteet 5A 9PM Announcment of 5A & 6A Ratings and Caption Awards

Results of the Bib Country Marching Festival held at Wylie HS, Abilene, TX on Oct 1st 2018 Class Ratings 5A/6A Bands Best in Class San Angelo Central Best Percussion San Angelo Central Best Aux Abilene Class 4A Bands Best in Class Big Spring Best Percussion Andrews Best Aux Big Sprling Class 3A Bands Best in Class Colorado Best Percussion Eastland Best Aux Eastland Class 1A/2A Bands Best in Class Not Awarded Best Percussion Hawley Best Aux Baird Band Ratings Andrews 1 Bangs 1 Big Springs 1 Baird 2 Hawley 2 Coahoma 2 Colorado 1 Eastland 1 Ballinger 2 Cisco 2 Merkel 2 Snyder 1 Lakewview SA 1 Sweetwater 2 Wylie, Abilene 1 Cooper, Abilene 1 San Angelo 1 Abilene 1

After reading the topic on the Lone Star Cup competition,I have came to the conclusion that a 1st Division in Marching Contest is far more important to Class 1A, 2A , 3A & 4A Bands than it means to Class 6A & 6A Bands. The reason is that most of the smaller schools have more turnover in students in Band and being successful (which contrary to the Above comments, is important to smaller schools and Bands) Unfortunately I think this column should be named Class 5A and 6A Texas Bands because these are most of the Bands that compete in more than 3 contests a year and can place their emphasis on BOA vs UIL contests. I guess those of you who cannot understand why that 1st Division Rating in anything but a remarkably low Standards(words of the writer above) will not understand why a school of 250 students that receives 1st Division in Marching with a Band made up of one half the total school, celebrates this as a great accomplishment. These same schools do not have multi member staffs and cannot pay $3500 for a show as the bigger schools can and do. Due to low enrollment the size of these Bands varies by year. Thus when they accomplish being awarded a 1st Division Rating, it means something. I wonder how many Folks here go to Region, 2, Region 7, Region 16, region 1 and Region 21 contests to see how important this Rating is. No it is not BOA Quality, it is just many of our Bands being honored for making these REMARKABLY LOW STANDARDS OF A 1ST DIVISION RATING and what it means to that schools Lone Star Cup Chances.

It is shame they did not invite the Longhorn Band to perform this year. With so many alumni of UT in the area, if the Band played at the end of the Show, most of them would be duty bound to stay for the playing of THE EYES OF TEXAS. That would be one way to keep many from leaving.

The annual Capitol City Marching Festival hosted by LBJ HS Jaguar Marching Band will take place at the Burger Center in Austin, TX on Sep 29th, 2018. 19 Bands will compete in the contest with the favorite being the Dripping Springs High School Band from Dripping Springs, TX who will compete in class AAAA. Bands are grouped by number of musicians in each Band. Classes are as follows A Under 50 musicians AA 51-79 Musicians AAAA 110 to 159 musicians AAAAA 160 musicians and above Judges for the contest are as follows:' Ferd Vollman Visual Manny Maldonado Percussion Cody Edwards Guard T. Andre Feagen, Music Prelims Schedule is as follows Class A 10:00 Travis, Austin 10;15 Schulenberg Class AA 10:30 Manor 10;45 Lanier, Austin 11:15 Elgin Class AAAA 11:30 Del Valle 11:45 C C Winn, Eagle Pass 12:00 Akins, Austin 1: 00 Lockhart 1:15 Dripping Springs 1:30 Douglas McArthur, San Antonio 1:45 McCallum, Austin 2:00 Bastrop 2:15 Alamo Heights Class AAAAA 2:45 Earl Warren, San Antonio 3:00 Clemons, Schertz 3:15 Anderson, Austin 3:30 Temple 3:45 Taft,San Antonio 4:00 LBJ in Exhibition Finals are to begin at 7PM

The Lineup has been posted for the Annual Galena Park ISD Marching Band Festival at Galena Park ISD Stadium on Oct 6 2018. Adjudicators for the Contest are Greg Goodman, Charlotte Royal and Rick Yancey, Music Tom Bell and Brian Casey, Marching Bands and Scheduled performance Times 9:00 AM Class 5A Galena Park(Host) 9:15 AM Class 6A Klein Collins 9:30 AM Class 5A New Casney 9:45 AM Class 5A Crosby 10:00 AM Class 6A Nimitz 10:15 AM Class 5A Huntsville 10:30 AM Class 6A Cypress Ridge 10:45 AM Class 5A Terry 11:00 AM Class 6A Cypress Springs 11:15 AM Class 6A Kingwood 60Minute Break 12:30 PM Class 5A Lamar 12:45 PM Class 6A LaPorte 1:00 PM Class 6A Channelview 1:15 PM Class 6A Sam Rayburn 1:30 PM Class 4A Lumberton 1:45 PM Class 4A Brazosport 2:00 PM Class 5A Porter 2:15 PM Class 6A Cypress Ranch 2:30 PM Class 6A Summer Creek 2:45 PM Class 6A Pasadena 15 Minute Break 3:15 PM Class 5A Texas City 3:30 PM Class 5A Barbers Hill 3:45 PM Class 5A Montgomery 4:00 PM Class 6A C E. King 4:15 PM Class 6A Clear Creek 4:30 PM Class 5A Kingwood Park 4:45 PM Class 6A Deer Park 5:00 PM Class 6A Tomball Memorial 5:15 PM Class 5A Willis 5:30 PM Class 6A North Shore (Host) Awards ceremony to Take PLace at 6PM. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place awards Given in Class 5A & 6A 1st & 2nd Place awards Given in Class 4A Judging Shhets are available for Review on GPISD Marching Band Festival Web Page

I am sorry that this situation is occuring. Being from a Region in UIL that almost never sends any Bands to BOA, I see some differences that cause problems. If the contest was UIL Regional Marching Contest, UIL policy requires the Schools to allow the Bands to perform at Marching Contest. Several years ago in Region 8 there were two games scheduled on Saturday afternoons right in the midst of the Class 6A Marching Bands schedule for Marching. The Four Band Directors made their administrators aware of this and they ruled that UIL Contest takes priority over the Football games. The Bands did Regional Marching Contest and they played records at the games. The problem and this is a "BIG ONE" is that BOA is not a UIL sponsored event. I do think it is a bit petty to force the Band to go, however remember this , THE FOOTBALL GAME IS A SCHOOL ACTIVITY. That is why they can demand the Band be at a Game. Even if you win this one , you will lose support from the school community. Good Luck. Why can's the Bands performance time in the Finals be moved so lthat can appear at the game and the contest, or move the time of the Game, which would allow the Band to do both.

I think one has to ask why only one of the three schools mentioned was battered by some folks. Is that because people Odessa and the Lubbock areas seem to be a bit friendlier to each other. I do not know. I do not live in East Texas so I do not understand the total angst the word Longview Brings to some directors. If I am correct, Longview only marches in UIL Region Contest and has not entered either UIL Area or other contests for Many years. The comment about the Region Secretaries getting judges who are favorable to this Band, I will not address since I have not been to Region 21 Marching Contest. I think a problem exists in that most military marching bands will not take part in contests that favor Corps Style Groups. Nor do their fans care who wins BOA or other contests. Lets let Longview got to the side and see if you can say anything positive about Plainview and Odessa.

They already have the 4 States Marching Contest at Texarkana, AR HS the first week of Oct. They have judges from both UIL and ASBOA doing the judging. They draw Bands from TX, AR, LA, and occasionally OK. Your idea is good for a BOA contest, however it has to be more financially reasonable for most of the smaller schools. The current entry fee is hard for AA, AAA, AAAA and some AAAAA Schools to afford. Also LA and AR schools do not have the budget we have in TX, but it could and should be done. There are a lot of smaller schools who would love the opportunity to do a BOA show with more schools of their own sizes. If you are a school with 700 students, why would you want to compete against the 6A Heavyweights that go to most BOA Events.

Interesting you mentioned that. BOA Waco has only one HS Band from the Entire Region 8 of UIL Attending. That is Robinson. Four of the Class 6A Schools are going to the Texas Music Championships in Round Rock and 14 of the other schools to include Waco High School are going to the Gatesville Marching Contest. Most of the Bands you recognize are from the Austin Area, which is almost 100 miles from Waco.

Fossil Ridge was outstanding in the early 2000's winning many events. Then they sank like a rock. It is hard to say why this has happened. When they were good, they were very good. I fortunately did not see them when they were not so good.

It helps when one is a long term alumni of the University and also the Director does not judge High School Bands. He understands like I do that we have likes and dislikes, and they do not belong in a judges group

I realize that Longview is a military style Band and from your comments you have a real problem with Longviews performances during recent years. I did not ask the question about their style of marching, unfortunately you did. By the way both Odessa and PLainview are Corps style bands. I realize that you are very partial to Corps Style Bands, which is your right. I also respect LD Bell that has had 58 consecutive 1st Division Marching Ratings. Saying that military drill is in your opinion not worthwhile is like me asking why not one TX Band can march on the Street like Arcadia, CA. Their record matches that of our BOA winners only they did it in Street Style Marching. If you think that the ratings are cooked, then call out the judges. I think that there is no Band that does not do Corps style Marching you would really approve off. That is sad. I had a University Professor who directs a major University Band in CA who despises Corps style drill, and his Band does not do any Corps style marching. Fortunately He keeps his opinions to himself because he sees many Good Bands directed by his former students who do corps style shows. Maybe you could have done the same.

What happened to Odessa HS. Their Calendar shows them performing at BOA Midland

I looked up the records of most Bands in TX and found out that three Schools have records of 1st Division Ratings in Marching contest for many years. I am wondering if any of the Current Big Name Bands can match these three schools with consecutive 1st Division ratings. Plainview. 80 years consecutive 1st Division Ratings in Marching Contest Odessa 76 years consecutive 1st Division Ratings in Marching Contest Longview 68 years consecutive 1st Division Ratings in Marching Contest

Actually when you did not asterisk Longview in the Region 21 list, you made an error. This Band is a military Style Band which does not choose to enter UIL Area Contests. However, they have for 68 consecutive years received 1st Division Ratings at Region Marching Contest. They are a good military Band, that does not choose to compete other than at UIL. It is my opinion that they will make this 69 years of 1st Division Ratings at Region Marching Contest. By the way, they are far superior musically than either of the Tyler Bands you asterisked. Just thought I would let you know

As we discuss the differences between UIL and BOA, I have to wonder how many of the writers are involved in Class A, AA, AAA and AAAA Bands and their programs. The simple fact is that BOA is extremely expensive for small schools and trying to meet the BOA standards while also competing for UIL is not usually a good use of funds. A look at the numbers tells you that there are approximately 1300 HS Bands that compete in UIL Regionals each year. BOA has usually about 200 different schools (primarily 5A & 6A Bands) competing at the BOA contests. I think it would be interesting to hear from folks in small schools about trying to do both types of shows. UIL exists to provide contests for all size schools, this is not the requirement for BOA.

I wish you well. Duncanville was the Gold Standard at TX Bands from the late 1980's through 2010. While you can change the style of show, and the uniforms, you have a High Standard to meet the musical standard that previous Duncanville Bands set.

What draws folks to continue to march in a DCI group when they are 21 years of age.

UIL 6A Championshps will be a big event this coming fall. If you read the Yellow Board, the costs Bands are charging for Travel and other items, is being met with complaints by Parents, some of whom are Band Directors who feel that Costs are to high. Doing UIL even if you have to travel some distance, is still cheaper than going out of state. Big thing also is that since UIL is a school event, the Bands absence from School does not count against daily attendance figures and does not hurt funds coming for student attendance. BOA is not a school function and being gone for 4 or 5 days counts against average daily attendance.