MikeKyu

A head up contest and free day of practice heading into San Antonio is too juicy to pass up. Having judges look at you is always a benefit to the organization. I don't see many top flight bands skipping area.

The mirrors are used to great effect. They are not only used to reflect but they are also using them to hide and "reappear." When they blow out the guard with double flags, in person you get overwhelmed with color and movement. It's gonna be fun watching this show progress. As I said before, I think this is the best Cedar Park show since their last Grand Nats run. I wasn't too high on that show this early in the season (I know, different director).

Gheez Vandy. The tone of the flutist and the trombone duet. Both have the same timbre to their sound. To have a group that large play with so much control and balance is incredible.

Cedar Park is ready. The GE ideas don't translate well on my video. Seeing this in person is impactful. https://youtu.be/fYm-vAOVWgY

I just finished watching Cedar Park. This is the highest GE show they have done since 2016. They sound great and are ready for tomorrow. Video will be posted when I get home.

Excellent panel for this show. Just having Saucedo and Crotts on a panel would be awesome. This panel is heavy, just like the entry list.

This is the hardest year football-wise since we moved to Cedar Park. At least the halftime show is excellent.

This looks like loads of fun. https://www.trombonechamp.com/

I see that as just fine. Let them copy your already well planned out drill. Do it better. Copy cats exist in every business vertical, competition, or art form. The best just continue on with what you do. "Imitation is the greatest form of flattery."

Well, they probably aren't having avocado toast and mimosas with every meal.

Not a bad showing for CP considering almost all of their front ensemble are underclassmen. Congrats to Coppell and Vandy.

It's worth it. Tonight I watched most of the finals for McAllen plus got to see Castle, O'Fallon, and Lakota West. I just bought the entire season. $149 which means I can watch BOA Austin and Waco prelims from home plus all of Grand Nats. The sound is good, streams tonight were stable, and camera work wasn't "artistic" and instead focused on the entirety of the show.

74.375 John B. Alexander (captions sweep) 73.400 Luis D. Brandeis 72.750 Roma 71.950 Del Rio H.S. 71.950 Sandra Day O'Connor 71.600 Sharyland H.S. 67.950 Pioneer H.S. 66.850 United H.S. 64.550 PSJA Early College H.S. 63.650 Rio Grande City H.S. 63.250 Hidalgo Early College H.S. 62.150 Medina Music Performance: John B. Alexander Visual Performance: John B. Alexander General Effect: John B. Alexander

They absolutely needed to bring that back. Dorks like me take notes as shows go on and I'm atrocious with recalling song titles ( I have music that I've listened to for 40+ years that I still don't know the proper name of the song).

I get what you're saying about Cedar Park but Cedar Park usually doesn't even work on dynamic control until mid-October. That's when their shows start to breathe. Plus this is the first time that I can remember they have marched this many high brass. I assume (not involved with the band anymore) that there are some woodwind players still learning to buzz. Cedar Ridge and Cedar Park will be in that 3-6 dog fight that always happens in Austin.

Wow! Port Isabel. This band is going to do damage everywhere they compete this year. Great spacing, nice sound and an entertaining show. This is why BOA needs to have separate 1A-2A and 3A-4A finals. Lots of great things happening in this show. Great snare line and guard. I like that show a lot.

Eagerly awaiting John B. Alexander.... What a unique choice for introductory music. "Get a job!" Let's start tipping the scales. Guard work on the opening hit and the band movements are a delight. Nice articulation there high brass and a very nice crescendo! I dig the balance going into Saturn then tipping the scales. Low brass knocking some dBs out in a very tasteful way then backing off to allow the woodwinds and high brass in. Great job. Great show. Surpassed my expectations. Great job JBA

That Sharyland opener is intense. Nice sound quality as thi show progresses with a good balance. Very cool arrangements going on in this show. I can see why they placed in the top half. Nice show. Trombone soloist, nice tone. I'd like to hear it without a mic though so that it's sonically the same volume as the singer. Wow guard flash as the end. This show is going places this season and I am going to be a huge fan as it happens

Del Rio, I am really enjoying this show. I wonder if this show was written or arranged by the same person who does CTJ's shows. Some of the similarities are uncanny when it comes to key changes, overtones, and back sections into and out of highlight areas. Whatever, they are doing a wonderful job with this music and drill. I can see them passing Brandeis in finals.

Yes, JBA is sitting in the hardest spot of the contest, the favorite going into finals. Sharyland absolutely could pass Roma. It seems that their music was considerably lower than Roma in prelims. It's now Roma's job to come out for the top half and set the standard. Great spot to be in finals. Sharyland has what I think is one the hardest draw spots for finals, especially being followed by JBA.

Here ya go 7:30- Rio Grande City H.S., TX 7:45- United H.S., TX 8:00- Medina Valley H.S., TX 8:15- PSJA Early College H.S., TX 8:30-Pioneer H.S., TX 8:45- Hidalgo Early College H.S., TX 9:00- Roma H.S., TX 9:15- Louis D. Brandeis H.S., TX 9:30- Del Rio H.S., TX 9:45- Sandra Day O’Connor H.S., TX 10:00- Sharyland H.S., TX 10:15- John B. Alexander H.S., TX 10:30 -1A Champion Port Isabel H.S

Not only COVID but I believe that inflation has impacted some as well. I was surprised my son's first year in band when it came time to collect dues for the year. And I know of 3 bands that are triple of what we did per year.

Prelims Awards: Class A: 1. Port Isabel H.S., TX 2. Santa Rosa H.S., TX Outstanding Music Performance: Port Isabel H.S., TX Outstanding Visual Performance: Port Isabel H.S., TX Outstanding General Effect: Port Isabel H.S., TX Class AA: 1. Roma H.S., TX 2. Sharyland H.S., TX 3. Rio Grande City H.S., TX Outstanding Music Performance: Roma H.S., TX Outstanding Visual Performance: Sharyland H.S., TX Outstanding General Effect: Sharyland H.S., TX Class AAA: 1. Del Rio H.S., TX 2. PSJA Early College H.S., TX 3. Medina Valley H.S., TX Outstanding Music Performance: Del Rio H.S., TX Outstanding Visual Performance: Del Rio H.S., TX Outstanding General Effect: Del Rio H.S., TX Class AAAA: 1. John B. Alexander H.S., TX 2. Louis D. Brandeis H.S., TX 3. Sandra Day O'Connor H.S., TX Outstanding Music Performance: Louis D. Brandeis H.S., TX Outstanding Visual Performance: John B. Alexander H.S., TX Outstanding General Effect: John B. Alexander H.S., TX Finalists: Sandra Day O'Connor H.S., TX Medina Valley H.S., TX Roma H.S., TX Hidalgo Early College H.S., TX John B. Alexander H.S., TX PSJA Early College H.S., TX Sharyland H.S., TX United H.S., TX Louis D. Brandeis H.S., TX Pioneer H.S., TX Del Rio H.S., TX Rio Grande City H.S., TX

Each year since about 2017 I've loved JBA's shows. Design, concept, arrangement, and musical selection all do it for me. This year's show is no different. I always root for them a little more than other bands. They are always one of my underdog picks.

I am no longer a parent of a competitor. I am a huge fan of not only the competition but the dedication, art, and performance of every band. When I go to contests I always look around at the fans, students, and staff and say to myself, "Here are several thousand people doing the right thing. Appreciate the show, appreciate the parents, appreciate the staff, appreciate the dedication." This helps me to enjoy every show just a little more. It pains me to see some school parents who refuse to cheer for "competing" schools. Please, appreciate the effort and dedication above all. Scores are irrelevant. Cheer for each band. Cheer for the kids, the staff, the volunteers. Cheer...Cheer.