2025 BOA San Antonio Super Regional (Nov. 7 & 8)

[packwick]

1 hour ago, TWHSParent said:

This is an interesting topic to me. Speaking to The Woodlands I think their music choices melded really well in 2019, 2021, and 2022. I agree that 2023 and 2024 were not their best shows. So far I am liking 2025, should be interesting (theming and music strongly support "Hi-Fi" which is short for High Fidelity. The music is from the 60's and 70's when hi-fi was coming on the scene for everyone and leaving the nasty old monaural in the past).

most of tw's music is actually from the 40s/50s. songs covered over the years ofc. wish they would land on a theme that gives em a stronger visual hook, like crossing boundaries, etc. like how do u visually communicate hi-fi?? seems more of a feeling like mad mod go.

difficulty, i would say theyve been slowly dialing it up the past few years. 2018 was the nadir, then 2019 was cranked way up, then the pandemic. this yr seems quite challenging imo.

they'll do great at this contest but i doubt they'll win it. no biggie.

also another thumbs up vote for M&G's costuming/scenic design lol. i love it. i think the music matches just fine too. who designs for them is a good question.

[Rubisco]

31 minutes ago, packwick said:

most of tw's music is actually from the 40s/50s. songs covered over the years ofc. wish they would land on a theme that gives em a stronger visual hook, like crossing boundaries, etc. like how do u visually communicate hi-fi?? seems more of a feeling like mad mod go.

I think it gets harder every year to think of a unique "visual hook". That might be part of the problem.

[TWHSParent]

28 minutes ago, packwick said:

most of tw's music is actually from the 40s/50s. songs covered over the years ofc. wish they would land on a theme that gives em a stronger visual hook, like crossing boundaries, etc. like how do u visually communicate hi-fi?? seems more of a feeling like mad mod go.

difficulty, i would say theyve been slowly dialing it up the past few years. 2018 was the nadir, then 2019 was cranked way up, then the pandemic. this yr seems quite challenging imo.

they'll do great at this contest but i doubt they'll win it. no biggie.

also another thumbs up vote for M&G's costuming/scenic design lol. i love it. i think the music matches just fine too. who designs for them is a good question.

Yes, but they are using the "Hi-Fi" versions from the 60's and 70's as source material. 

As to visuals, they are going rather minimal on the props, so apparently the struggle is real. The bright colors are a link to the theme. The styling is also period appropriate. Beyond that it is also a struggle. Of course having a much easier theme was of limited help for On the Town, but better for Life is a Cabaret. Mad, Mod and Go was also a bit more abstract in visual theming and was really good anyway. I can live with the more abstract approach.

[FaultLineBlues]

2 hours ago, TWHSParent said:

This is an interesting topic to me. Speaking to The Woodlands I think their music choices melded really well in 2019, 2021, and 2022. I agree that 2023 and 2024 were not their best shows. So far I am liking 2025, should be interesting (theming and music strongly support "Hi-Fi" which is short for High Fidelity. The music is from the 60's and 70's when hi-fi was coming on the scene for everyone and leaving the nasty old monaural in the past).

Now to the interesting part - what do you think would make the music match the crazy visuals? A more upbeat style or are you thinking more virtuosity? I certainly can appreciate your point, especially during the years my child marched (2015-2018). I do see a gradual improvement overall since those years. They were in danger of falling off the top rung of Texas marching band, but have come back strong to keep their place. I have some awareness that there were discussions with the designers to improve the product but I have no knowledge of the details.

I guess I should amend that I actually thought Mad, Mod, and Go actually had some really solid music, and I thought it had a better arrangement of "Tank!" than Blue Devils did that same season, so maybe I'm just letting some recency bias tinge my view. I think these past two years the music (outside of the killer soloists) was lacking some, I don't know exactly how to say it, maybe *zest* on it stylistically? It's hard to quantify, and I admit that my tune could potentially change on a rewatch. I still do love Woodlands design though. One of the few TX programs that I can always count on to put on a novel show. 

[TWHSParent]

3 minutes ago, FaultLineBlues said:

I guess I should amend that I actually thought Mad, Mod, and Go actually had some really solid music, and I thought it had a better arrangement of Tank than Blue Devils did that same season, so maybe I'm just letting some recency bias tinge my view. I think these past two years the music (outside of the killer soloists) was lacking some, I don't know exactly how to say it, maybe *zest* on it stylistically? It's hard to quantify, and I admit that my tune could potentially change on a rewatch. I still do love Woodlands design though. One of the few TX programs that I can always count on to put on a novel show. 

I think we agree regarding the last 2 shows. While it didn't win, The Woodlands 2022 was their recent peak in my view, so how do you follow it up? Hopefully this 2025 show has some of that spark musically you are looking for (very dirty right now, especially the 4th movement, closer still to be put on the field).

My deeper take is that they have recognized the need to develop better at earlier stages and have been implementing that at the middle school level. You can't become Hebron musically overnight, and even Hebron struggles to stay at the heights of Penstriped. Odyssey FM was close, but Penstriped was the bomb.

[tubapop]

10 minutes ago, TWHSParent said:

Penstriped was the bomb.

Incredible, incredible show. Smacks you in the mouth from the first note. 

[Samuel Culper]

8 hours ago, LostChoirGuy said:

It's tradition at this point for people to vastly overrated the Austin area bands going into this contest.  Of course there will be plenty of them in finals and just outside, but we will also see more of the DFW groups in the mix.  It's too bad that several of the best groups from up there aren't going this year.

"Vastly overrated" feels like a vast overstatement.

[packwick]

1 hour ago, TWHSParent said:

My deeper take is that they have recognized the need to develop better at earlier stages and have been implementing that at the middle school level. You can't become Hebron musically overnight, and even Hebron struggles to stay at the heights of Penstriped. Odyssey FM was close, but Penstriped was the bomb.

find it interesting they start in 5th grade and staff haven't capitalized on that extra yr over the past couple decades. maybe too soft??? band should be mostly fun to be fair. last yr the jh didn't make it past region in honor band after placing top 5 at state a couple times in a row, which was kinda weird, tho they still had a ton of kids make region band.

anywho, back on topic. my pick rn for boa SA champ is FloMo buuut i reserve the right to change my mind when the uil area vids pour in!!!

can they win Nats too? hmmmm.... dunno. Avon looks and sounds... really good this yr. there's always a degree of layering/difficulty in their vis program that's hard to match and clean for bands w/ 8 hrs a week.  luv luv loved broken arrow last yr and i bet they'll be awesome this yr too. blue springs, just okay for me rn but they do interesting things. carmel whom i usually love kinda bored me but haven't seen a recent vid.

[TWHSParent]

27 minutes ago, packwick said:

find it interesting they start in 5th grade and staff haven't capitalized on that extra yr over the past couple decades. maybe too soft??? band should be mostly fun to be fair. last yr the jh didn't make it past region in honor band after placing top 5 at state a couple times in a row, which was kinda weird, tho they still had a ton of kids make region band.

anywho, back on topic. my pick rn for boa SA champ is FloMo buuut i reserve the right to change my mind when the uil area vids pour in!!!

can they win Nats too? hmmmm.... dunno. Avon looks and sounds... really good this yr. there's always a degree of layering/difficulty in their vis program that's hard to match and clean for bands w/ 8 hrs a week.  luv luv loved broken arrow last yr and i bet they'll be awesome this yr too. blue springs, just okay for me rn but they do interesting things. carmel whom i usually love kinda bored me but haven't seen a recent vid.

Yea. I don't know the details, just a general impression. Of course the high school made it to honor band finals for the first time since???

I don't have a pick at the moment for SA. I think Rubisco's write up is very solid at this point. We'll get a better read at 6A state.

I've not seen anything from Broken Arrow. Will see them at St Louis. Just saw a video of Blue Springs. I don't know but for some reason I was getting Tarpon Springs vibes on the show design. I think Avon is stronger than Carmel so far. I have been given an opportunity by Music for All to attend Indianapolis Super (gratis), but I'm not sure if I can make it.

[LostChoirGuy]

2 minutes ago, Jhorn said:

 

I’m a senior at MGJ and so I can tell you from what I know about the design team

Drill is done by Jonathan Vanderkolff. 

One of the visuals designers is Andy Toth  

Music design team is Aaron Guidry, Dan Morrison, and Dave Isaacs, and there might be a few more people involved in some of the rewriting that took place before San Marcos

Then we have the new guard Director Seth McPhail who does the majority of our choreo. 

I’m not entirely sure who designed the props and costumes but I think it’s someone in Bluecoats from what I remember Perez telling us but I don’t know for sure. 

That's Reagan's music design team, right?  I don't usually keep up too much with this.

[LostChoirGuy]

35 minutes ago, Jhorn said:

This is a bit random and probably won't mean much but we've had the Regan Music Team (Guidry, Morrison, and Issacs) since 2023, before Perez was the director. So they were not hired by her.

However, I do know she had the music re arranged and re written a lot more this year than the previous 2 years with that team, and it’s working very well lol, I love playing the music in this years show! She's done nothing but good since getting here, and one of my favorite teachers I’ve had. Brought a lot of joy to my life both in concert band last spring and now the marching season this year.  

I love to hear that!  Good luck to you the rest of this season!

[mussheet]

Ok the final texas regional has concluded so all we have left if the super regional and here are my pre-area predictions for how i think things will shake out IN PRELIMS. 

1. Flower Mound (Very very stong showing at bedford with them beating hebron. There show is so complex but the execute everything so flawlessly. I have them winning SA and maybe even winning Nats)
2. Vandegrift (Did very well at TMC and that closer is so so good. They just have such amazing technique in both marching and music. Not the biggest fan of thier show design but it is still a very well put togeather program.)
3. Hebron (Not a fan of the show concept, but god they can play. They will most likeley win music here but it feels werid to not put them in the top 2 but its just the design of their show is a little lackluster.)
4. The Woodlands (Really fun show from this year with some pretty challenging music imo, defeintly a top 5 finish at SA and hopefully Nats as well)
5. Vista Ridge (I would love to out them higher cuase their show is just that good but I just cant bring myself to have them over the woodlands. I could also see them possibly snagging a music caption in prelims)
6. Cedar Park ( This show defintly has grown on me quite a bit and it just keeps getting better. I think they have some of my favorite music arrangements from this year and it all works so well together. that ballad is everything)
7. Ronald Reagan ( TMC was def not the outcome they wanted but I defently see them getting passed that here and really doing an amazing show and getting into the top half. their show is so visually intersting that I cant look away.)
8. Moe and Gene Johnson (They have been having one of their best seasons to date thanks to their new director. They had a great showing at TMC and another one at BOA St.Louis and I see them doing that here as well. Could see them in the top half over reagan but im not sure about that right now)
9. Pearland (I feel this is way to low but this is where they will be for now. Their visuals and GE are crazy good this year like every year. Could very much see them moving up but they havent competed in a sec so I cant really guague what their scoring is like right now.)
10. Rouse ( I love Rouses Music this year, it is arranged to so good and that opener is to die for. Not the same level as requiem or opus 78 imo but still a very stong show that will get them into SA finals)
11. Cedar Ridge (Congrats to CR on winning waco for the 2nd time. Their music is something that can't be matched and is really good (they should have won music over bell in finals...) they had a little shaky start earlier this season but really fine tuned things by now.)
12. Dripping Springs (Another group like MGJ who is having one of their best seasons to date. They are really gunning for that spot at Nats this year I see them making finals this year. Their visuals are very intriguing to look at and their GE is also very stong this year. Also they have a habbit of placing pretty good in prelims then maybe droping a place in finals so i could see that happening here)
13. Seven Lakes (Really strong showing from them at south houston with them taking 2nd and winning the music captions I think, I could see them raising really high in the ranking like they did lat year at SA but I havent seen them compete in a second.)
14. Wakeland (Nice 2nd place finish at prosper behind marcus and I think there show this year is very good and I think they will be in SA Finals)
--------------------
15. James Bowie ( Good showing at waco but I just dont see them making it this year)
16. Leander (I could see their visuals carrying them into finals but not at this moment)
17. Westlake (Started off really strong and then just kinda peaked to early)

Music-Hebron

Vis-Flomo

GE-Flomo

[Rubisco]

1 hour ago, mussheet said:

Music-Hebron

Vis-Flomo

GE-Flomo

There's a really good upstairs cam on YouTube of Hebron performing their full show at UIL region. They're technically dazzling -- whirlwinds of notes again -- although not quite as locked in as usual. I wonder if there's an opening for Vandegrift, Vista Ridge, or even Flower Mound again to take that caption in finals. (Prelims results have been rendered a big "whatever" for me with the two panel system.) I do really like Hebron's show overall -- the charming concept, the diverse musical landscapes, and the A+ drill at the end that's a wink-wink nudge-nudge that made me grin from ear to ear. Sometimes, though, I wish the visual focus were clearer, with all the stuff going on at once and the guard and band not being quite locked in with their timing. I'm sure they'll come back out swinging in a couple weeks. That's a lot of time for a band as enormously talented as Hebron!

[tubapop]

2 hours ago, mussheet said:

Ok the final texas regional has concluded so all we have left if the super regional and here are my pre-area predictions for how i think things will shake out IN PRELIMS. 

1. Flower Mound (Very very stong showing at bedford with them beating hebron. There show is so complex but the execute everything so flawlessly. I have them winning SA and maybe even winning Nats)
2. Vandegrift (Did very well at TMC and that closer is so so good. They just have such amazing technique in both marching and music. Not the biggest fan of thier show design but it is still a very well put togeather program.)
3. Hebron (Not a fan of the show concept, but god they can play. They will most likeley win music here but it feels werid to not put them in the top 2 but its just the design of their show is a little lackluster.)
4. The Woodlands (Really fun show from this year with some pretty challenging music imo, defeintly a top 5 finish at SA and hopefully Nats as well)
5. Vista Ridge (I would love to out them higher cuase their show is just that good but I just cant bring myself to have them over the woodlands. I could also see them possibly snagging a music caption in prelims)
6. Cedar Park ( This show defintly has grown on me quite a bit and it just keeps getting better. I think they have some of my favorite music arrangements from this year and it all works so well together. that ballad is everything)
7. Ronald Reagan ( TMC was def not the outcome they wanted but I defently see them getting passed that here and really doing an amazing show and getting into the top half. their show is so visually intersting that I cant look away.)
8. Moe and Gene Johnson (They have been having one of their best seasons to date thanks to their new director. They had a great showing at TMC and another one at BOA St.Louis and I see them doing that here as well. Could see them in the top half over reagan but im not sure about that right now)
9. Pearland (I feel this is way to low but this is where they will be for now. Their visuals and GE are crazy good this year like every year. Could very much see them moving up but they havent competed in a sec so I cant really guague what their scoring is like right now.)
10. Rouse ( I love Rouses Music this year, it is arranged to so good and that opener is to die for. Not the same level as requiem or opus 78 imo but still a very stong show that will get them into SA finals)
11. Cedar Ridge (Congrats to CR on winning waco for the 2nd time. Their music is something that can't be matched and is really good (they should have won music over bell in finals...) they had a little shaky start earlier this season but really fine tuned things by now.)
12. Dripping Springs (Another group like MGJ who is having one of their best seasons to date. They are really gunning for that spot at Nats this year I see them making finals this year. Their visuals are very intriguing to look at and their GE is also very stong this year. Also they have a habbit of placing pretty good in prelims then maybe droping a place in finals so i could see that happening here)
13. Seven Lakes (Really strong showing from them at south houston with them taking 2nd and winning the music captions I think, I could see them raising really high in the ranking like they did lat year at SA but I havent seen them compete in a second.)
14. Wakeland (Nice 2nd place finish at prosper behind marcus and I think there show this year is very good and I think they will be in SA Finals)
--------------------
15. James Bowie ( Good showing at waco but I just dont see them making it this year)
16. Leander (I could see their visuals carrying them into finals but not at this moment)
17. Westlake (Started off really strong and then just kinda peaked to early)

Music-Hebron

Vis-Flomo

GE-Flomo

I don't think I'm being biased when I say Bridgeland is going to be a finalist here. The show isn't as challenging as last year's, but the visual and general effect points will be high due to strong integration of the water theme in the music, extensive choreo, and props. Brass sounds better than it has in years, and they're coming off of some grand nats finalist momentum from last year, for what that's worth. I do wish the directors would kick it up a notch and venture into elite-level music and drill difficulty. 

I think the forum hype (here/HornRank) for MGJ is a bit extreme. You can see the impact the director is having on visual--the unison in movement is reminiscent of the woodlands, at least as of a couple years ago. They're on the right track, but 8th seems a bit much.

Rouse will place higher than 10th. 

The love for Seven Lakes is well-deserved, but I predict their show design will find more success at state than at BOA-SA. I'm quite confident they will be in 6A state finals and will achieve their highest ranking to date.

[glyde]

19 minutes ago, AshTru9 said:

I’m calling it now, MGJ is 100% placing top 8. 

They do have an awesome production this year!! More visuals and yes they deserve finals here without a doubt

[Rubisco]

7 hours ago, tubapop said:

I don't think I'm being biased when I say Bridgeland is going to be a finalist here.

Perhaps I'm biased, too, but I would have all four of the Houston bands that made 6A state finals last year in finals at this event. Bridgeland is the one I'm most concerned about, but that has nothing to do with their show or any competitive results from this season; it's just their performance time and spot on the more loaded prelims panel makes me fear they may get lost in the mix. They'll have to demonstrate that they're hanging with the finals locks in their prelims block.

I think Moe and Gene's success at BOA St. Louis speaks for itself. That finals adjudication panel was VERY experienced -- of the sort you would see judging national finals. Moe and Gene were 0.65 points behind 2023's 4th place national finalist, Blue Springs. And they were only 2 points behind last year's 3rd place national finalist, Broken Arrow. Now, does that mean they'll make top half in finals here? No, because the contest dynamics will be quite a bit more intense at San Antonio, and frankly, at this moment, I don't think Broken Arrow or Blue Springs are as strong year over year. But it's not outside the realm of possibility, and it feels increasingly likely Moe and Gene will at least land in finals here.

I won't have a strong idea until I see all the bands in prelims performing at the same venue from the same upstairs angle.

[LostChoirGuy]

I've finally taken the time to look through the panels a bit closer.  There are so many strong groups in both panels that deserve a shout-out.  Even those that I didn't include are going to be awesome and could have some big surprises, but I do think that all of the top 30 or so will come from this list.

Panel 1:
Wylie East
Cinco Ranch
Round Rock
Rouse
Claudia Taylor Johnson
John B Alexander
Wylie
Keller
Midlothian
Timber Creek
The Woodlands
Cedar Ridge
Wakeland
Leander
College Park
Argyle
Aledo
Dripping Springs
Flower Mound
 

Panel 2:
Cedar Park
James Bowie
Moe & Gene Johnson
Westlake
Bridgeland
Braswell
McNeil
Ronald Reagan
Vandegrift
Vista Ridge
Westwood
Lake Travis
Hebron
Cypress Woods
Pearland
Cy-Fair
Friendswood
McKinney
Seven Lakes
Dawson

Here is what I think will be the top 10 in each panel and which ones will make finals:

Panel 1:
Flower Mound
The Woodlands
Wakeland
Cedar Ridge
Rouse
-----------
Keller
Dripping Springs
Wylie
Leander
Claudia Taylor Johnson/ Round Rock

Panel 2:
Vandegrift
Hebron
Vista Ridge
Cedar Park
Ronald Reagan
------------
Pearland
Moe & Gene Johnson
Seven Lakes
James Bowie
Westlake/ Cy-Fair/ Bridgeland

I named 23 bands here.  It's crazy to think that some of them will inevitably have to place in the 20s, and that is disregarding the fact that Marcus, Coppell, LD Bell, Prosper, Lone Star, and so many other great groups won't be here.  In regard to the panel balance, I could see all 4 groups coming from Panel 2, but I think it is natural for the scoring to be more balanced between the panels, even if the quality is a bit more skewed toward Panel 2.  For this reason, I think Panel 1 will get at least six in finals.

 

 

[lost]

How is Keller looking this year? I feel like I’ve barely heard anything?

[LostChoirGuy]

1 hour ago, lost said:

How is Keller looking this year? I feel like I’ve barely heard anything?

They have a really strong visual production.  They are wearing a vibrant blue uniform with capes that go down to their ankles and skeletons on the front.  The guard are in similar vibrant yellow.  The uniforms really help to highlight the body work and individual marching of each member of the band and they are able to do some really cool stuff on the field with the capes.  Musically, they still have a really strong brass line.  They don't have the strongest drum line, but they never have really.  I feel the show has lacked in some big MGE moments, but I haven't seen the completed product yet as they tend to not put their whole show out until the final two weeks or so of the season.

 

I think they will be top 10 in visual and should be top 15 or so in Music and GE here. 

[cheeto2401]

saint anthony superman region

[Qwerty22]

Do we think Westlake will be make Finals this year?

[Band2021]

31 minutes ago, Qwerty22 said:

Do we think Westlake will be make Finals this year?

I think anything is possible but judging from the panels they are in the most competitive of the 2. They have to beat 2 of the following in order to be considered safe. 

Vandegrift
Hebron
Vista Ridge
Cedar Park
Ronald Reagan
------------
Pearland
Moe & Gene Johnson

[quenslays]

20 hours ago, LostChoirGuy said:

Panel 1:
Flower Mound
The Woodlands
Wakeland
Cedar Ridge
Rouse
-----------
Keller
Dripping Springs
Wylie
Leander
Claudia Taylor Johnson/ Round Rock

I honestly see Dripping Springs over Keller and Wakeland this year. They didn't even have a fully complete show and there were obvious mistakes at tmc and still placed top half with an 85.9 which techinally was higher then Wakeland's score at prosper but that probably means nothing lol. I know that probably doesnt mean anything but they are def playing the long game with their show and I think by SA and Grand Nats they should defently be considered as a strong finalist option.

[LostChoirGuy]

11 minutes ago, quenslays said:

I honestly see Dripping Springs over Keller and Wakeland this year. They didn't even have a fully complete show and there were obvious mistakes at tmc and still placed top half with an 85.9 which techinally was higher then Wakeland's score at prosper but that probably means nothing lol. I know that probably doesnt mean anything but they are def playing the long game with their show and I think by SA and Grand Nats they should defently be considered as a strong finalist option.

I mean, you are entitled to that opinion and I certainly think DS has a good chance of making finals here, but I think Wakeland has been far better this year so far and you should never discount late season Keller.

[quenslays]

24 minutes ago, LostChoirGuy said:

I mean, you are entitled to that opinion and I certainly think DS has a good chance of making finals here, but I think Wakeland has been far better this year so far and you should never discount late season Keller.

Yea keller has alwys been a late bloomer, but I guess we wont know till it happens lol