UIL 6A State Marching Contest 2025 (Nov 3-4)

[packwick]

dunno if the judges for 6a have been posted yet but here they are

Dave Carbone, Mike Davis, Don Deems, Kim Kuhn, Mike Leitzke, Kendall Lejeune, Chico Portillo, Richard Saucedo, Robert Solomon, Todd Tucker

almost all out of staters again and ppl who have judged for at least one of BOA/DCI/WGI. thinkin only portillo and tucker might not have, tho tucker is affiliated w/ MFA, so not sure on him.

'nother reason i don't fully trust area results, bc judges at State level have shifted away from tx band directors/retired directors to the more national group. even if sheets the same as area, they bring diff perspectives + experience.

[packwick]

On 10/29/2025 at 10:48 AM, thetrumpetplayerOAT said:

Im really interested in seeing how Vista Ridge does this year especially after taking over Vandi at Area H. I think they have a strong chance at a title this year and I'm all for it. Im also excited to see how well Dripping springs does with their competitive area D run securing 2nd place!!! This year truly is an excited year for marching band!

think they've topped vandy a couple times before at area but they're def "due" for a top 3 finish here at state methinks. they sound amazing and the judging here is very music perf heavy.

[dullbanddad]

1 hour ago, packwick said:

think they've topped vandy a couple times before at area but they're def "due" for a top 3 finish here at state methinks. they sound amazing and the judging here is very music perf heavy.

They have and the heavy music slant is why Vista traditionally over performs in state vs BOA SA.

[benjamin.electron]

On 10/29/2025 at 9:14 AM, TheSV-001Gamer said:

Any hope for Dawson? They did beat Pearland in brass at Area Finals but that’s pretty much it 

Clements won brass at area prelims so I think they will win state finals but idk

[SharksAreCool]

23 hours ago, JFNDOWBFAN said:

Shark, did your band make it? what A?

Of course my band made it. And I’m 6A so I will be at this contest (performing though).

[BassistNo1]

Any thoughts on how Timber Creek will do, just wondering because last year they made 17th at state so I'm wondering if anyone thinks they are finals caliber this year.

[seafoodbuffet]

3 hours ago, BassistNo1 said:

Any thoughts on how Timber Creek will do, just wondering because last year they made 17th at state so I'm wondering if anyone thinks they are finals caliber this year.

I'm personally looking at 11-12 bands that are likely finalist (barring major disaster) and about 5-6 programs competing for the final 2-3 spots. I could see Timber Creek being in contention for one of those spots, they just have to beat a number of other worthy bands. This contest is so hard to predict precisely because how good all bands get by this time in the season. I can't decide whether 6A State or BOA SA is the literal toughest contest in the country (esp now that many/most grand nats participants from TX don't attend BOA SA).

[BobbyBob]

1 hour ago, seafoodbuffet said:

I'm personally looking at 11-12 bands that are likely finalist (barring major disaster) and about 5-6 programs competing for the final 2-3 spots. I could see Timber Creek being in contention for one of those spots, they just have to beat a number of other worthy bands. This contest is so hard to predict precisely because how good all bands get by this time in the season. I can't decide whether 6A State or BOA SA is the literal toughest contest in the country (esp now that many/most grand nats participants from TX don't attend BOA SA).

Why are we forgetting Bridgeland?

[BlaStoFf22]

Just my take:

Bands I think are locks, not withstanding some kind of disaster or really bad judging (12)

Vista Ridge, FloMo, Hebron, Marcus, Vandy, Pearland, Woodlands, Bridgeland, Coppell, Reagan, Cedar Ridge, Dripping Springs

Bands competing for the final two spots (13)

MG Johnson, Waxahachie, LD Bell, Prosper, Seven Lakes, Keller, CT Johnson, Dawson, Westlake, North Shore, Timber Creek, Cy Woods

That's 25 really, really good bands.  Being strong in every caption is going to be so important here.  Unlike Area, the WW, Brass, & Percussion sheets are strictly that caption.  At Area music ensemble was a part of each of those sheets, so it wasn't true caption judging.  Effect is its own sheet here, as is Individual Visual.  With this show being as tight as it is, a single weak caption can be the difference between being in finals or not.  

 

[Lemon]

31 minutes ago, BlaStoFf22 said:

Just my take:

Bands I think are locks, not withstanding some kind of disaster or really bad judging (12)

Vista Ridge, FloMo, Hebron, Marcus, Vandy, Pearland, Woodlands, Bridgeland, Coppell, Reagan, Cedar Ridge, Dripping Springs

Bands competing for the final two spots (13)

MG Johnson, Waxahachie, LD Bell, Prosper, Seven Lakes, Keller, CT Johnson, Dawson, Westlake, North Shore, Timber Creek, Cy Woods

That's 25 really, really good bands.  Being strong in every caption is going to be so important here.  Unlike Area, the WW, Brass, & Percussion sheets are strictly that caption.  At Area music ensemble was a part of each of those sheets, so it wasn't true caption judging.  Effect is its own sheet here, as is Individual Visual.  With this show being as tight as it is, a single weak caption can be the difference between being in finals or not.  

 

What are y’all’s thoughts on Bridgeland this year

[JFNDOWBFAN]

17 hours ago, SharksAreCool said:

Of course my band made it. And I’m 6A so I will be at this contest (performing though).

Morning or afternoon?

[JFNDOWBFAN]

Just now, JFNDOWBFAN said:

Morning or afternoon?

@SharksAreCool …… hmmm….. “of course”…. Marcus?

[tubapop]

2 hours ago, bobthecat said:

What are y’all’s thoughts on Bridgeland this year

Are you a Bridgeland kid? Regardless, stop sweating what other people think. It doesn't matter. The majority of people making prediction lists haven't even seen all of the schools' shows and don't even know all of the schools' names. The whole thing is absurd and just for fun. 

[Lemon]

3 minutes ago, tubapop said:

Are you a Bridgeland kid? Regardless, stop sweating what other people think. It doesn't matter. The majority of people making prediction lists haven't even seen all of the schools' shows and don't even know all of the schools' names. The whole thing is absurd and just for fun. 

Sadly not a kid

[seafoodbuffet]

2 hours ago, BobbyBob said:

Why are we forgetting Bridgeland?

Who says I'm forgetting Bridgeland? If you must know, I'm guessing they are in the "in unless something terrible happens" category. If you're from Bridgeland, genuinely, please relax, it's only band and we're only a bunch of Internet people whose words have no ability to affect the outcome of this contest. Just enjoy whichever band(s) you're a fan of and don't sweat placements.

[1q2s3e4f]

On 10/17/2025 at 1:42 PM, ACT said:

I don't think anyone is beating vandy this year imo

ts didnt age well🥀

[daldhowe]

4 hours ago, BlaStoFf22 said:

Just my take:

Bands I think are locks, not withstanding some kind of disaster or really bad judging (12)

Vista Ridge, FloMo, Hebron, Marcus, Vandy, Pearland, Woodlands, Bridgeland, Coppell, Reagan, Cedar Ridge, Dripping Springs

Bands competing for the final two spots (13)

MG Johnson, Waxahachie, LD Bell, Prosper, Seven Lakes, Keller, CT Johnson, Dawson, Westlake, North Shore, Timber Creek, Cy Woods

That's 25 really, really good bands.  Being strong in every caption is going to be so important here.  Unlike Area, the WW, Brass, & Percussion sheets are strictly that caption.  At Area music ensemble was a part of each of those sheets, so it wasn't true caption judging.  Effect is its own sheet here, as is Individual Visual.  With this show being as tight as it is, a single weak caption can be the difference between being in finals or not.  

 

Don't necessarily agree with all of your "locks", but completely agree that several excellent bands will not make finals. 

[JFNDOWBFAN]

If you live in the Rockwall Area, come send these bands off to state!!!

[hsbandnerd212]

Is the performance order of finalist bands completely random across the board or is it random only within a top half and bottom half split? I can't seem to find anything on the UIL website that confirms this either way.

[drumline8]

18 minutes ago, hsbandnerd212 said:

Is the performance order of finalist bands completely random across the board or is it random only within a top half and bottom half split? I can't seem to find anything on the UIL website that confirms this either way.

Random within top half/bottom half. This is the random draw order posted on the UIL website.

[LostChoirGuy]

44 minutes ago, drumline8 said:

Random within top half/bottom half. This is the random draw order posted on the UIL website.

This is just becoming comical now.  If Keller makes finals they will be rewarded with being one of the first (if not the first) to go again.

[Wait001]

2 hours ago, drumline8 said:

Random within top half/bottom half. This is the random draw order posted on the UIL website.

Is there one with I, E, and F filled out?

[BandFan50]

Rip Vandy darn

[ChristopherRoden]

17 hours ago, drumline8 said:

Random within top half/bottom half. This is the random draw order posted on the UIL website.

amazing draw for flomo 👀 

[bananas1111]

Predictions for state finals

1. Bob jones high school 

2. SEEDS deaf academy 

3. Flower mound 

4. walnut grove high school 

5. Avon

6. Streamer academy 

7. Southern university 

8. walnut groce

9. Hebron 

10.marcus

11.mckomney north

12. 

13.

14.

i think Hebron is in the bubble and so is vandygridt