UIL 5A State Marching Contest 2025 (Nov. 10 & 11)

[lhbenlee]

6 minutes ago, Anthony V said:

Alright, here’s some fun numbers, firstly on our finalists and then on conference 5A state championships since 6A was added in 2014.

Let’s start with state advancement numbers, which are how many times the program has previously advanced from area to the state marching contest (in any classification).
Lebanon Trail - 3
Burleson Centennial - 4
Lone Star & Rouse - 5
McCallum - 6
Hays, Richland, & Wakeland - 9
Aledo – 10
Argyle - 12
Cedar Park - 13
Leander – 15

All of today’s finalist programs have also made it to state finals before. Here’s their finals appearances (in any classification):
Lebanon Trail - 2
Lone Star & McCallum - 3
Burleson Centennial & Hays - 4
Rouse & Richland - 5
Aledo – 8
Wakeland - 9
Cedar Park & Leander - 11
Argyle – 12

Finally, three of our finalists today have won UIL state at some classification:
Richland - 1
Cedar Park - 8
Argyle – 8 

Next, some stats on UIL 5A state marching contest. 
-There is one band in finals today which was a finalist and bronze medalist in the very first 5A state finals in 1980 – McCallum.
-FYI: From 1980 to 2014, 5A was the largest classification. 
-Moreover, until 2023, state contest was not held for all classifications; thus, 5A state contest typically took place every other year. Although the sixfold conference system had its inception in 2014, the first 5A state contest in that system did not occur until 2015.

Here’s the layout of six 5A state contests that have occurred from 2015-present. Today is the seventh 5A state contest in this system. I also list the names of today’s finalists if they were a state advancer and 5A in the given year:
2015 – Cedar Park (1st), Leander (3rd), Wakeland (5th), Aledo (10th)
2017 – Cedar Park (1st), Wakeland (4th), Richland (6th), Aledo (8th), Rouse (9th), Lone Star (12th), McCallum (23rd)
2019  - Cedar Park (1st), Wakeland (3rd), Rouse (4th), Burleson Centennial (5th), Lebanon Trail (8th), Aledo (9th), McCallum (14th)
2021 – Cedar Park (1st), Rouse (2nd), Leander (3rd), Wakeland (4th), McCallum (6th), Aledo (7th), Lebanon Trail (15th), Lone Star (16th), Burleson Centennial (17th)
2023 – Cedar Park (1st), Rouse (2nd), Wakeland (3rd), Leander (5th), Burleson Centennial (6th), Lone Star (7th), Richland (9th), Lebanon Trail (12th), Aledo (13th)
2024 – Cedar Park (1st), Rouse (2nd), Leander (3rd), Wakeland (4th), Aledo (5th), Lone Star (6th), Argyle (7th), Burleson Centennial (9th), Richland (15th), Hays (18th).

Some highlights: Since 2015…
-Cedar Park is the undefeated 5A champion.
-Wakeland is the only program besides Cedar Park present at all six 5A finals. 
-Aledo has advanced to state every 5A year.
-When advancing to 5A state, Leander has never missed the top half of finals.
 

Note that Leander was 6A from 2016-2019 so not eligible for 5A. They did make finals in 6A in 2016 and 2018 finishing 7th and 5th, respectively. They’ve made state finals every year eligible for the last decade in either 5A or 6A. 

[natertater21000]

35 minutes ago, OGFISD99 said:

I'm Lone Star feels tge same about the music judges...... lol..... glasses and hearing aids might be needed for today's finals...... Just saying this as a spectator..... 

I was not surprised by the pre lims scores. Tone is more important than volume.  

[Anthony V]

7 minutes ago, lhbenlee said:

Note that Leander was 6A from 2016-2019 so not eligible for 5A. They did make finals in 6A in 2016 and 2018 finishing 7th and 5th, respectively. They’ve made state finals every year eligible for the last decade in either 5A or 6A. 

Yes, that's why I put "if they were a state advancer and 5A in the given year." Leander's finals appearances are included in the metrics where I put "(in any classification)."

But thanks for pointing that out. 🙂 Maybe I had too many moving parts in the way I framed things.

[Tubalord11]

What's good everyone! We're back live on NFHS for the finals of 5A state! Last run for all these bands, give it all you got! Super excited, let's get it. 

[Percplayer19]

3 hours ago, CDLune VA said:

Best of luck to all of our 2025 UIL Texas Conference 5A State Marching Band Finalists:

 

Aledo H.S. — Aledo, TX (Aledo I.S.D.)

Argyle H.S. — Argyle, TX (Argyle I.S.D.)

Burleson Centennial H.S. — Burleson, TX (Burleson I.S.D.)

Cedar Park H.S. — Cedar Park, TX (Leander I.S.D.)

Jack C. Hays H.S. — Buta, TX (Hays Consolidated I.S.D.)

Leander H.S. — Leander, TX (Leander I.S.D.)

Lebanon Trail H.S. — Frisco, TX (Frisco I.S.D.)

Lone Star H.S. — Frisco, TX (Frisco I.S.D.)

McCallum H.S. — Austin, TX (Austin I.S.D.)

Richland H.S. — North Richland Hills, TX (North Richland Hills I.S.D.)

Rouse H.S. — Leander, TX (Leander I.S.D.)

Wakeland H.S. — Frisco, TX (Frisco I.S.D.)

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Anyone and everyone who sees this, give every single one of these bands a standing ovation when they're coming on and off the field! They truly deserve it for all their hard work, and the more energy they get from the crowd, the more energy they'll channel into their performance!

Richland High School -North Richland Hills, TX (Birdville ISD)

[Bandlife]

Aledo should be 6A. They have gotten away with fudging the numbers for too long. 

[Gpk1968]

Just now, Bandlife said:

Aledo should be 6A. They have gotten away with fudging the numbers for too long. 

 

Come on….

[Tubalord11]

Wow Aledo, wow wow wow!! Couldn't think of a better way to get finals going! From start to finish, each member is committed to the theme, both musically and visually. The drill is so engaging, and super clean. Musically so strong, a couple members pushing the volume a little bit at times, but I mean wow they are freaking loud. Love the different planes set in the drill, call backs to top gun, and what they do with the props. One of my favorites of the season for sure, amazing run, and amazing job Aledo!! 

[Bandlife]

5 minutes ago, Gpk1968 said:

 

Come on….

It's true. Look at the numbers! As well as several other bands performing today. 

[acpintar1]

9 minutes ago, Bandlife said:

Aledo should be 6A. They have gotten away with fudging the numbers for too long. 

They are moving up next year with realignment.

[Bandlife]

Just now, acpintar1 said:

They are moving up next year with realignment.

I heard that. Once I see it I will believe it. Lol

[Gpk1968]

1 minute ago, Bandlife said:

It's true. Look at the numbers! As well as several other bands performing today. 

The numbers are based on when we last went through realignment and the Band has zero control over how large the school gets. It is not based on the size of the band.

4A is grumbling about this too. It cannot be helped unless we realign every year and NO one wants to go through that. 

[Bandlife]

4 minutes ago, Gpk1968 said:

The numbers are based on when we last went through realignment and the Band has zero control over how large the school gets. It is not based on the size of the band.

4A is grumbling about this too. It cannot be helped unless we realign every year and NO one wants to go through that. 

I was referring to in general. We all know they got away with not moving up the last realignment. It's all for the football team. 

[Tubalord11]

Welcome back to finals McCallum, and wow I see why!! Love the Fur Elise flute solo into that huge opening hit. So much difficult passages in both the brass and WWs in that second movement, nails. Bats sets are supper effective for the theme, lots of rotating blocks and forms throughout, guard work is great. Lines running through each other at the end into that last chord is so cool, little bit of dirt visually but minor. That last chord rang through the dome, super clean, really loved that performance, they showed why they made it here, amazing job Mac Band!! 

[Argyleauntie346]

8 hours ago, oddlynormal said:

Heartbreaking for some of these bands.  However, caution everybody...you cannot compare scores to a few weeks ago at area with a totally different panel.  There is no historical brownie points given anymore.  It is all about what you bring in the moment.  Some of these older perennial finalists just were not up to snuff THIS year.  The top 12 are correct.  Unfortunately, they have to pick 12.  That's how it is.  I do not want to call out any programs because everyone is so strong.  However, UIL will NOT let a band make finals that does not make consistent IN tone sounds the entire program.  You cannot go off the rails tonally ever.  The bands that made top half of finals are pretty much 100% in that category.  Also remember that some of these bands were the big dogs in their area.  Sadly, not all areas are created equal.  You may be the area Z champion, but at state you are not that anymore.  State is the great equalizer.  I think the judging at this contest was a little better than 6A, but 6A was not incorrect either.  We are splitting hairs to get the top bands.  This is the most fair...unfair process that will never be perfect.  The old system was not perfect either.  

 

Congrats to ALL of the bands.  This is probably the strongest 5A contest I've ever seen along with 4A and 6A.   

I completely disagree.  

[Debw]

12 minutes ago, Bandlife said:

I heard that. Once I see it I will believe it. Lol

They reported 2404. So should move up . 

[Tubalord11]

1 minute ago, Argyleauntie346 said:

I completely disagree.  

How so? There statement pretty much sums up what happened yesterday and is just the reality of the comp at the state level 

[DrumLine]

2 minutes ago, Debw said:

They reported 2404. So should move up . 

So if Aledo, all the Leander ISD schools and Wakeland/McKinney North move up to 6A as is rumored (and in some cases, expected), 5A becomes really interesting next year.

[Argyleauntie346]

Richland review: 

Groovy start to the show, has me on edge. Lovely auxiliary. Pretty clean diagonals in brass, though some choreo was misaligned. Interesting combination of clarinet and trumpet soloists. Amazing loud sounds. wow! I like the concept of the props. The flute solo was covered up a bit, some balancing issues in that section. Interesting concept with the triangles up front, a bit out of time unfortunately. Pass by’s were very impressive. Diagonals were better this time.

 

I appreciate how loud this band is. Winds are absolutely wonderful, especially in their loud moments. Overall, surprising performance from what I would consider a lesser known band. 

[Tailgate88]

When do the official notifications of conference realignment come out?

[acpintar1]

Just now, Tailgate88 said:

When do the official notifications of conference realignment come out?

February

[Tubalord11]

Holy smokes Richland, what a run! Percussion was great into the start! Gotta give a shoutout to the rifle line, they killed those tosses during the brass feature during the 2nd movement. Brass ballad was absolutely gorgeous, that trumpet solo was ringing over the brass ensemble, such a mature tone, WW flag work was super effective. Super powerful ending, rotating forms were great, electric guitar was fantastic throughout, don't know if it's the same from these past years but they were killer. Some spacing issues in the big forms but individual technique was so clean, just a super fun show that they killed, great job Richland!! 

[jetliner]

Wowowow I had Richland in finals when many others didn't, and MAN did they deliver a great finals run today! I think I heard some overtones in there. Very good!

[Debw]

3 minutes ago, DrumLine said:

So if Aledo, all the Leander ISD schools and Wakeland/McKinney North move up to 6A as is rumored (and in some cases, expected), 5A becomes really interesting next year.

According to GM sports media. Wakeland reported 2245. If cutoff is 2250. Would not appear they are moving. No numbers in their reports for McKinney. Leander not included. Only Dfw schools. 

[DrumLine]

8 minutes ago, Debw said:

According to GM sports media. Wakeland reported 2245. If cutoff is 2250. Would not appear they are moving. No numbers in their reports for McKinney. Leander not included. Only Dfw schools. 

Just saying: Based on what I'm hearing, don't be surprised on Wakeland to 6A. Parents fought to not rezone their lines for this purpose.