utee94

Totally agree, I put my comments about Glenn on the 5A thread, but they're definitely fun to watch. In some ways it's very refreshing, because they really appear to be so full of joy, and having a great time. I'm not sure I can say the same about all of the other LISD bands, at least not all the time-- often times it seems they're just working so hard and it's tough for them to have a lot of fun. I include my own kids in that statement, they put a LOT of pressure on themselves. I was in marching band in high school and had great time. But not only were we not a particularly competitive band, but the landscape at the time also wasn't nearly as competitive as it is now. We didn't even start our UIL show until a few weeks before Region, we just did spirit shows and stand tunes for the first 1/3rd of the season.

Went to the Leander ISD Festival of Bands last night and got to see some of the shows for the first time. I commented on the 6A bands in the other thread, but for 5A, man it's going to be a tight competition again. Rouse is as good as ever and I expect this show to grow throughout the year. Beautiful music as always. And I like the new uniforms, they're sharp. Glenn has such a good sound for its relative size. There's still some work to do here but it's fun watching them grow up and strive to move out from the shadow of the other Leander bands. Cedar Park, well I'm biased but I still have them at the top of this grouping. The CP ballad is the single best stretch of music and movement I saw all night, including the 6A bands. And Leander... hmmm, Leander. I do not know what to make of this show. I like the music for the most part, as expected they play it really well, I like the drill, and I love the theme and concept. But... but, those video screens. I tried desperately not to be distracted by them, and I just couldn't help it. The animation is great, it's sophisticated and professional, doesn't seem budget or cheap or overly cartoonish in any way. And it fits the music and story well. They're just so... large. And up-front. And unavoidable. I think I'm going to have to see that show a couple more times before I either get it, or decide that I just don't and never will.

Ah I see where this is going. I will not feed the

Sure it does. Just got back from the Leander ISD Festival of Bands, what a great group of bands. Vista Ridge has a nice show and I have no doubt they'll peak later in the season like they always do, but wow Vandegrift is just on another level right now. They're so clean, so tight, so well put together. This is absolutely a state championship contender.

If 2025 results ended identically to 2024, then it would let in these 3 "next in line" bands from Area H. None of which would have made much impact at State last year, and probably wouldn't this year. I don't know that it would have "negatively affected" anything as long as the rule was written such that the extra 3 bands were incremental and didn't displace bands from other Areas. It just wouldn't have really helped, either.

Really interested to see how Anderson does this week, after winning the CapCity Marching Festival in South Austin last weekend. Tougher competition this weekend for sure.

So excited for my friends at Anderson! I saw their show at the first football game against McCallum and it was already looking good and sounding great!

At Toney Burger Center in South Austin. I'd never even heard of this one, but I have friends with kids at Anderson (which also happens to be my alma mater) and this is where they're headed for this weekend. Lots of bands that might get lost at some of the more major events, getting a chance to show their stuff. https://capitalcitymarching.org/

I don't know if I'd predict them as a dark horse, but last year I thoroughly enjoyed Lake Belton's show, and am hopeful to see a lot of them this year as well. I think they just barely missed out on Finals at State, and I really thought they'd get through. I look forward to seeing more from them in 2025.

Oh one other thing I meant to mention about the contest-- it was interesting hearing Westwood's version and then CP's version of Children Will Listen from Into The Woods, in back-to-back prelims performances, no less. They were clearly very different arrangements, and it was fun to hear how each show arranger interpreted the music and incorporated it into the show. I have to say I absolutely love our ballad, it's probably my favorite since my kids started at CP. Watching the band come out of that into a much more upbeat and chaotic Part 4, is going to be a lot of fun.

For sure, but it's also possible and even likely that the threshold for 5A/6A will increase, and some of the LISD schools would remain 5A as a result.

Tentative schedule is out, obviously things could change based on results at UIL Region. https://www.uilmusicregion11.org/uploads/1/3/5/3/13535811/2025_5a_area_h_mbc_tentative_schedule__1_.pdf

Well, Round 1 is complete at BOA-Round Rock with CP, Rouse, and Leander taking 1-2-3 in the AAA classification. It's really crazy that UIL Area will be the next actual competition for CP. There's LISD Festival of Bands and UIL Region in between now and then, but the next true competition won't be until 11/1.

They were probably a couple hundred pounds each? Their weight wasn't really as bad as their size-- on a windy day they just became massive sails. We lost one blowing over during BOA-Waco that year. The big one, the center stage, had to be 400-500 lbs. We had three dolly platforms that we wheeled it out on. It was all aluminum frame covered in mirrored polycarbonate on almost every surface. That was such a cool set piece.

Really? Wow. I didn't know motorized vehicles were allowed. We sure could have used about 23 of those when we did Mirror Mirror 3 years ago!

I saw their show a couple of weeks ago at the Cedar Park/Vandegrift football game and it was already super tight even then. They're just so good, so precise, so skilled. Reading through the sentiments on this thread, it sounds like some folks didn't find their show to be particularly moving, but I have to say this is my favorite show of theirs in years, I really like it. Regarding Leander, I didn't get to see their show but we were parked right next to their trucks in the lot. Watching their parents/pit crew wrestle those screens was something else. They had a gas-powered 4-wheeler to tow them around the lot, before entering and after exiting the stadium. I have no idea how they moved them on the field, 27 parents maybe?

Man it was pretty hot out there on the field today. Glad we finished up prelims early. I only got to see Westwood since they went right before us. I really enjoyed getting to hear their version of Children Will Listen, luckily it was a very different interpretation than ours. Really proud of the kids, this is the best run they've had all year and they're for sure going to strive to top it tonight. Agree with the sentiment above, Vandy has to be the favorite but I think it's wide open.

This is going to be a fun one, some really good bands here that often don't get much of the spotlight due to other CenTex bands just being so dang good.

Yeah I think later times are almost always better than early. Only negative to your prelim performance time is the heat. But y'all are young and strong, you can handle it! If I weren't headed to Dallas that weekend I'd seriously consider coming down and watching this.

It sucks that BOA-SM is pulling some of the talented schools away, especially the SA programs, but this contest is still so loaded. It's going to be a lot of fun. I like this prelim time for CP, and with a bye the night before the kids will be well rested. Last year it seems like there were a lot of very early call times following late night football games. Both of my kids were absolutely exhausted from about September 15th through November 20th. Took 'em several days to recover after Grand Nats. It was an amazing experience (for the kids AND for the parents!) but honestly I'm glad we'll never have to do that again.

Honestly I think I'm at least as excited about Leander's show theme, as I am about CP, this year. But don't tell my kids!

Drum majors reported on Monday, my kids report to Leadership tomorrow. Here we go...

It's still a pretty darn loaded lineup though. Small but mighty. I'm really surprised CP hasn't announced attendance. Right now the only non-UIL contest event before BOA-SA is BOA-Austin(RR). They usually like to wedge one more in there, last year notwithstanding due to the trip to Indianapolis.

One of my best friends has two kids in the CR band, exact same ages as my two in the CP band, and their shows have been so much fun to watch. I have no doubt they'll have some crazy take on the music, they always seem to.

Yup my "insider" didn't steer me wrong, Leander High School Band reveals their 2025 show: "Curiouser and Curiouser" Featuring the music of: Jefferson Airplane Gordon Goodwin Roland Orzabal Danny Elfman Elvis Costello Nat King Cole Andrew Markworth & Rick Rodriguez John Mackey https://www.instagram.com/leanderhighband/reel/DJnKscosQbf/ I'm really excited to see this show next Fall, I think they can do something truly special with it.