lost

Good concept but the acoustics in AT&T are famously horrible. USBands does host a show out there and it’s relatively popular. Not sure about NRG actually, I’ve never heard of it be discussed that they could host a BOA. Probably cost or acoustics issues?

It saves money but is it worth the well-being of the students? Lots of variables at play

Very few bands and districts in Texas have the resources to double up, even the wealthier ones. It’s a huge financial undertaking.

I think the idea of having bands attending nats being given Saturday performance times is really interesting and nobody’s brought it up. I can’t say I see a downside. If the band is willingly making an investment to attend both contests, seems like the minimum they could do is provide preference for them to go on Saturday at SA even if they have to go first in the day. I agree that sometimes bands need to know when to cut their losses and skip out on SA especially now that UIL is every year and their sheets and feedback are much more compatible to BOA scoring.

I think 2017 is a close second. Winning prelims and almost dethroning Cedar Park was exciting to watch. This was definitely their best season though. I almost wish they’d held out on going to grand nationals, if they’d given it a few years they would’ve easily made it in.

Round Rock surprised a few when they came back and made both San Antonio and national finals in 2019 after missing early season in Austin. An incredible recovery given many people counted them out early after that. To this day I think they were always capable, just a dirty run and an undeveloped show in prelims on the morning of Austin. They would have been in finals in Austin today given the expansion to 12 bands.

Glad to hear it! Definitely payback for when they were barely 6A in 2018 (although they handled being 6A incredibly well)

They really should cut BOA SA respectfully. Part of why Cedar Park outperformed the other Texan bands in 2016 was because they were one of the only in the group to have sufficient time between BOA SA and Nats given they were 5A then and were on a non-UIL year.

I was going off old #’s and trends from a few years ago looks like these plans are shifting immensely, very similarly to the situation up in Prosper and the Dallas suburbs. The growth up here in Dallas is no joke it’s really exponential. I still can’t imagine they’ll move up, at least not in the long term. Conference #’s are always shifting, and while CP is growing insanely I think they’ll keep pace with the increments in UIL, keeping in pace to at least consistently be one of the largest schools in 5A. Give or take a few students though they may end up in 6A for a cycle or three a little bit longer than Leander did from 2017-2020. Eventually I do believe CP will fall back into 5A if not veering into 6A territory for a few years, especially with the relief of the new high school.

Leander 5A by 5 students! Depending on who you are this must be an exciting turn of events.

They’ll be comfortably 5A for a very long time, no signs pointed to them moving up this realignment or even the next.

Money in the program /=/ nats trip. A lot of bands prefer to commonly take non-competition trips to Disney or Universal (occasionally New York) or really anywhere to fill in for a band trip. Sometimes they perform in parades there or other similar exhibitions. I would be very happy to see the talents of Ana or Celina at nationals, but I'm just being realistic with existing trends. Also, money in the school and district /=/ money in the program.

Leander was 6A by around 3 kids during the 2018 cycle.

Do not appreciate the ad hominem attack, also do not appreciate the insinuation children in other states aren’t high achievers. I’m sorry for your plight and I hope you will do what is individually best for your family.

Other states have been doing this for years, to take away the educational experience of an increase in having to be taught to manage responsibilities it is puzzling to advocate for that.

I think these takes are fundamentally dangerous for students, but I digress.

Vandegrift is out for 2024.

I would hope those bands wait another year before going. Going immediately after a breakout success hasn’t been historically favorable for a few bands. Give it a few years to build up.

Coppell swapped their 2019 nats trip for a st. louis one. It was originally confirmed as nats, before they made the switch later on.

This won’t happen. Nationals has become prohibitively more expensive in the last twenty years.

Tournament of Roses means they get an invitation to march in the parade. Esprit de Corps is simply to the band whose students, volunteers and representatives present the most sportsmanship throughout the competition. CTJ won this in 2019!

Shut the **** up

Now this is an upset!

Hebron at least keeps their streak of medals. Third place is a great finish!

I guess that’s one way to soothe the pain.