2025 BOA Shenandoah (Sept. 27)

[flutepop]

I believe Bridgeland should have won. I spoke to the Bridgeland kids after their finals run and everyone said they had a really bad run and the scores reflect that. They scored a 80.6 in prelims then an 80.1 in finals. Cy Fair scored a 80.55 in finals, still not surpassing Bridgeland’s prelims score. Also one judge highly contributed to their loss, putting them in 8th for GE music. Bridgeland beat fair in and music and visual but simply lost because of GE. If they would've had a better run prelims to finals, they for sure would've took gold. (my opinion, congrats to fair)

[TWHSParent]

2 hours ago, Rubisco said:

Hmmm, I meant more sentimental, not quite "happy-go-lucky." But you are absolutely correct that the end of what Bridgeland presented is a significant mood shift, which makes me excited to see the rest!

That's a good point. Bridgeland was also over 2 points ahead of Cy-Fair in prelims, easily winning effect in that round.

Wow, actually, I'm just now noticing that 14.9 in music effect in finals. That's straight up crazy. 8th place?! In prelims, this judge also had TWHS 4th in ensemble music, while they were a very comfortable 1st in individual music.

Bridgeland really may have just gotten poor luck with the panel. This, of course, underscores the need for doubling the effect panel -- my constant gripe! 😅

I had noticed the scores from that judge - what caught my attention wasn't the score itself, but the margins. My opinion is that those were rather exaggerated, but those were his opinion and his opinion is what counted.

[yerdarntootin]

The judge’s scores in prelims seemed a bit inconsistent as well.

[tubapop]

2 hours ago, Rubisco said:

Hmmm, I meant more sentimental, not quite "happy-go-lucky." But you are absolutely correct that the end of what Bridgeland presented is a significant mood shift, which makes me excited to see the rest!

That's a good point. Bridgeland was also over 2 points ahead of Cy-Fair in prelims, easily winning effect in that round.

Wow, actually, I'm just now noticing that 14.9 in music effect in finals. That's straight up crazy. 8th place?! In prelims, this judge also had TWHS 4th in ensemble music, while they were a very comfortable 1st in individual music.

Bridgeland really may have just gotten poor luck with the panel. This, of course, underscores the need for doubling the effect panel -- my constant gripe! 😅

Judge Hagan was a significant outlier in this event. Judging art ain't easy. 

[Rubisco]

4 hours ago, TWHSParent said:

I had noticed the scores from that judge - what caught my attention wasn't the score itself, but the margins. My opinion is that those were rather exaggerated, but those were his opinion and his opinion is what counted.

Yeah, I mean, in terms of putting bands in the right box on the sheets, the scores were okay, but like you said, the margins were exaggerated. Judges also try to match being in the "correct" third of a given box on the sheets. I'm not convinced that happened here.

It does seem like the overall judging picture pointed more to a Bridgeland win here. But I really do think Cy-Fair is hanging with them and a deserving champion. I think both will strongly compete for a spot in finals late season at both BOA and UIL.

[BandMomEra]

Let's give some credit to the Cy-Fair band for their win instead of trying to justify why Bridgeland didn't win.  All these kids work equally as hard.  A win is a win. 

[packwick]

20 hours ago, Rubisco said:

could challenge their main weapon line even more, I think. The tosses are generally lower in height and less tricky compared to last year. They seem to rarely toss 6s, whereas last year they had ensemble 6s (and higher) with body/partner work under the tosses. I also wish the dance step stages could interact with the drill more and not just be there to look nice. I don't know, maybe have them slowly march into the drill and push the drill out of the way or something. 😄

😄

thinkin the guard lost a really talented senior class, that first group of McCullough girls thats all in Boston Crusaders now, but obvi they're still amazing.

really diggin what they have so far. haven't been this happy w/ a woodlands performance early season since 2021. see if they flatline or not. tbh liked em better than anything i saw at BOA Austin, but im extremely biased and u can take that w/ a grain of salt LOL

[packwick]

also, no love for college park?? music caption, babyyyy!!!!

they seem cleaner visually, still not the most inspired content in the world tho. cage with the lights was cool.

[TWHSParent]

7 hours ago, packwick said:

also, no love for college park?? music caption, babyyyy!!!!

they seem cleaner visually, still not the most inspired content in the world tho. cage with the lights was cool.

Love it! It fits well with my comment on Hornrank from Prelims:

"College Park has a strong show. I like the minimalist props approach, letting their musicality carry them. Pretty sure they'll perform again tonight."

And boy did they.

[Ninelets]

I'd love to listen to Hagan's tapes, I know he was positioned in the stands (not on the field) for both prelims and finals. You can make the case there were more than a couple inconsistencies in prelims and in finals. Tapes would maybe at least provide some rational and hopefully its something they are able to learn from for the next time!

[TWHSParent]

12 minutes ago, Ninelets said:

I'd love to listen to Hagan's tapes, I know he was positioned in the stands (not on the field) for both prelims and finals. You can make the case there were more than a couple inconsistencies in prelims and in finals. Tapes would maybe at least provide some rational and hopefully its something they are able to learn from for the next time!

And that is all this conversation about the judging is about - improving the judging, not a "band x should have won". My take that you can read at Hornrank was that both Cy-Fair and Bridgeland had outstanding shows with very little between them. I enjoyed them both and am very pleased that both programs continue to put out strong shows, and more importantly, strong performances. The only program I still have some bias toward is The Woodlands, but our youngest last marched in 2018 so even that is getting tempered year by year.

[Bill_Hou]

10 hours ago, BandMomEra said:

Let's give some credit to the Cy-Fair band for their win instead of trying to justify why Bridgeland didn't win.  All these kids work equally as hard.  A win is a win. 

It's not what they do...just get used to it!  🙂

[Rubisco]

17 hours ago, packwick said:

tbh liked em better than anything i saw at BOA Austin, but im extremely biased and u can take that w/ a grain of salt LOL

BOA Round Rock or BOA San Marcos?

I guess Round Rock would be the Austin one? I'm probably the outlier on this forum in agreeing with the judges that Vandegrift belonged 2 points ahead of the competition at that contest. Everybody here seemed hot on Vista Ridge. I think their show is more of a work in progress again, whereas Vandegrift was already pretty fantastic, at least performance-wise.

I get the feeling that the top 5 at BOA San Antonio will be the same as last year, in probably a different order. I'm not as sold on Marcus, but their shows can take more time to shine. Vista Ridge and Cedar Park are the likeliest replacements. Curious to see what Pearland brings this weekend, too. I would like to see a GN participant win at San Antonio, because it has been forever since the BOA SA champion attended Nationals. Based on trends, however, it will probably be Hebron or Vandegrift.

[packwick]

1 hour ago, Rubisco said:

I get the feeling that the top 5 at BOA San Antonio will be the same as last year, in probably a different order. I'm not as sold on Marcus, but their shows can take more time to shine. Vista Ridge and Cedar Park are the likeliest replacements.

marcus ain't going to san antonio, so theeere's an extra spot right there.

def curious to see if B-land and CyFair will make the cut.

and yes i was referring to Round Rock. don't think san Marcos counts as Austin. close but not quite.

[BrassMomof2]

On 9/29/2025 at 12:02 AM, packwick said:

also, no love for college park?? music caption, babyyyy!!!!

they seem cleaner visually, still not the most inspired content in the world tho. cage with the lights was cool.

It’s a jar of fireflies  Glad CP is getting some love!

[packwick]

12 hours ago, BrassMomof2 said:

It’s a jar of fireflies  Glad CP is getting some love!

i just loved how the lights glimmered!! authentic!! the band sounded fabulous too!! a lot of really expressive playing.

[ChristopherRoden]

I don’t think I saw anyone discuss how A&M consolidated placed above Dickinson in prelims. They would’ve been in finals but I guess they skipped for homecoming? Or something similar? 

[TWHSParent]

1 hour ago, ChristopherRoden said:

I don’t think I saw anyone discuss how A&M consolidated placed above Dickinson in prelims. They would’ve been in finals but I guess they skipped for homecoming? Or something similar? 

That is what I saw stated elsewhere, that they (like Tomball Memorial and The Woodlands) had homecoming activities that evening.

[ChristopherRoden]

On 10/3/2025 at 9:31 AM, TWHSParent said:

That is what I saw stated elsewhere, that they (like Tomball Memorial and The Woodlands) had homecoming activities that evening.

Got it! Still impressive to note because I don’t think many saw that coming. I do remember being impressed with their performance so glad it would’ve qualified them had their hoco fallen on a different weekend