2025 Melissa Marching Showcase (Sept. 27)

[TexasStrangers]

15 hours ago, criscubes said:

with Farmersville and North Lamar joining, 4a just got even more competitive. I can't wait to see these bands go at it. I could see any of the 4a bands making finals this year especially since it's so early on in the season. 

This contest is probably more stacked then it has ever been. I think the only 4A that made it last year was Celina. 

[TexasStrangers]

1 hour ago, GarbagePatchKid said:

I agree. Probably only Celina, if that. They placed high last year and surprisingly knocked back a few frisco schools but this contest is even more stacked this year. I know last year they only did an exhibition for the 4a bands that did not make finals. I wonder if they would consider doing a separate finals for 4a and below?

This is only the 3rd year they have done this contest. I don't think there is enough schools that are 4A and lower to justify a separate finals. Most of the bands that compete at this are 5A and 6A's. The only contest the last few years that did a separate finals for 4A and under and 5A/6A that I know of was Royse City I think in 2023. 

[TenLostDogs]

4 hours ago, TexasStrangers said:

This is only the 3rd year they have done this contest. I don't think there is enough schools that are 4A and lower to justify a separate finals. Most of the bands that compete at this are 5A and 6A's. The only contest the last few years that did a separate finals for 4A and under and 5A/6A that I know of was Royse City I think in 2023. 

I know large schools are stacked for this contest but small schools are no slouch. 

Based on the assumption that no small schools would make finals, It  would be epic if they could do a 4 band final for small schools instead of exhibitions. 

As of 8\13

10 bands 4A and under. 6 making state, 4 state finalists last year.

15 large schools. 
12 final spots all probably all going to large schools unless there a few small schools that could sneak into finals. 

 

 

[Tubalord11]

1 hour ago, TenLostDogs said:

I know large schools are stacked for this contest but small schools are no slouch. 

Based on the assumption that no small schools would make finals, It  would be epic if they could do a 4 band final for small schools instead of exhibitions. 

As of 8\13

10 bands 4A and under. 6 making state, 4 state finalists last year.

15 large schools. 
12 final spots all probably all going to large schools unless there a few small schools that could sneak into finals. 

 

 

Celina will probably make finals, a few others could but it will probably be mostly large schools like u said 

[TenLostDogs]

31 minutes ago, Tubalord11 said:

Celina will probably make finals, a few others could but it will probably be mostly large schools like u said 

Yes, so basically 15 bands competing for 12 finals spots. That seems to be  unbalanced. Still will be a blast to see how these 4A schools shake out.

[Tubalord11]

4 minutes ago, TenLostDogs said:

Yes, so basically 15 bands competing for 12 finals spots. That seems a little unbalanced in the way this is structured. Still will be a blast to see how these 4A schools shake out.

100%! I’m excited to be going here in person this year 

[TexasStrangers]

2 hours ago, TenLostDogs said:

I know large schools are stacked for this contest but small schools are no slouch. 

Based on the assumption that no small schools would make finals, It  would be epic if they could do a 4 band final for small schools instead of exhibitions. 

As of 8\13

10 bands 4A and under. 6 making state, 4 state finalists last year.

15 large schools. 
12 final spots all probably all going to large schools unless there a few small schools that could sneak into finals. 

 

 

Yes, many of the small schools are no slouch but it's hard for many of them to compete with a solid 5A/6A program. There are maybe 2-3 4A schools that could do that and probably 2 schools in 3A that could compete with 4A's. 

Back in 2023, there were 23 small schools that competed (4 2A, 6 3A, 13 4A) and 10 large schools (5 5A, 6 6A). The only small schools that made the Finals were Mineola (3A), North Lamar (4A) Celina (4A) and China Spring (4A) all 4 of those programs are State Programs. Schools like Sulphur Springs, Canton and Community didn't make it and had to go home that year. 

In 2024, there were only 9 small schools that competed (3 2A and 6 4A) and 23 Large Schools. Celina was the only small school to make the finals.

This contest has basically become a big school contest which is why you are not going to see many small schools there anymore and I think there are some other contests going on in the area that weekend that are more favorable for small schools to attend. 

[rudy12]

Is van Alstyn going?

[Gigger_Frog]

1 hour ago, rudy12 said:

Is van Alstyn going?

No

[Gpk1968]

I remember this contest last year. It’s so early and most of the shows are unpolished. Most schools only had maybe half their shows or a little more on the field and only a handful of visuals. While I think the contest is useful for determining some early placements, there’s still a lot of time for changes to occur. For example, Canton made the 4a exhibition last year but didn’t make it out of area for the first time in a few DECADES, which I know was a heartbreak for those kids and directors. 

[TexasStrangers]

1 hour ago, GarbagePatchKid said:

I remember this contest last year. It’s so early and most of the shows are unpolished. Most schools only had maybe half their shows or a little more on the field and only a handful of visuals. While I think the contest is useful for determining some early placements, there’s still a lot of time for changes to occur. For example, Canton made the 4a exhibition last year but didn’t make it out of area for the first time in a few DECADES, which I know was a heartbreak for those kids and directors. 

Exactly, most shows especially State shows are maybe 50-75% done by the time the Melissa contest kicks of. The week of the Melissa contest is when most bands start the competition season and then for the next 3-4 weeks go to other competitions where they add on or tweak what they have before Regionals. 

I was shocked as well about Canton not making it to State but with the previous realignment it made 4A Area C a gauntlet to try and make it out of there to State. I got a feeling a couple of schools are going to move up to 5A next year or quite possibly 1-2 or 2 schools get moved to Area B.

[rudy12]

3 hours ago, GarbagePatchKid said:

I remember this contest last year. It’s so early and most of the shows are unpolished. Most schools only had maybe half their shows or a little more on the field and only a handful of visuals. While I think the contest is useful for determining some early placements, there’s still a lot of time for changes to occur. For example, Canton made the 4a exhibition last year but didn’t make it out of area for the first time in a few DECADES, which I know was a heartbreak for those kids and directors. 

I bet that was hard for them. I remember a lot of people thinking that this contest was showing that they were going to be dominant again. Lots of folks were thinking them and Farmersville were going to take out NL.

I’d like to see Canton reclaim there place as the powerhouse of 4A. 

[rudy12]

1 hour ago, TexasStrangers said:

Exactly, most shows especially State shows are maybe 50-75% done by the time the Melissa contest kicks of. The week of the Melissa contest is when most bands start the competition season and then for the next 3-4 weeks go to other competitions where they add on or tweak what they have before Regionals. 

I was shocked as well about Canton not making it to State but with the previous realignment it made 4A Area C a gauntlet to try and make it out of there to State. I got a feeling a couple of schools are going to move up to 5A next year or quite possibly 1-2 or 2 schools get moved to Area B.

Who is probably going 5A?

[Gpk1968]

21 minutes ago, rudy12 said:

Who is probably going 5A?

Definitely Celina and Community. I’ve heard Sulphur is a maybe as well. Totally depends on UIL cut off numbers. 

[dfwhorn]

6 hours ago, rudy12 said:

Who is probably going 5A?

Celina, Community, Panther Creek, maybe Lake Dallas once again

[rudy12]

Way to early predictions

1  Lone Star

2 McKinney 

3 Argyle

4 Rock Hill

5 Memorial

6 McKinney North

7 Celina

8 Lebanon Trail

9 Sulphur Springs

10 Walnut Grove

 

Small School exhibition

Canton

Krum

 

[123Tuba]

51 minutes ago, rudy12 said:

Way to early predictions

1  Lone Star

2 McKinney 

3 Argyle

4 Rock Hill

5 Memorial

6 McKinney North

7 Celina

8 Lebanon Trail

9 Sulphur Springs

10 Walnut Grove

 

Small School exhibition

Canton

Krum

 

you forgot about braswell, who should be either 1st or 2nd here

[rudy12]

1 hour ago, 123Tuba said:

you forgot about braswell, who should be either 1st or 2nd here

I’m not familiar with them. Do they go to state a lot?

[Tubalord11]

1 hour ago, rudy12 said:

I’m not familiar with them. Do they go to state a lot?

No but they were 1 out of area J last year and have really good shows these past few years, will def be 1 or 2 here as of now 

[Gpk1968]

4 hours ago, rudy12 said:

Way to early predictions

1  Lone Star

2 McKinney 

3 Argyle

4 Rock Hill

5 Memorial

6 McKinney North

7 Celina

8 Lebanon Trail

9 Sulphur Springs

10 Walnut Grove

 

Small School exhibition

Canton

Krum

 

Pretty close to mine, but I’ve got memorial behind celina and sulphur springs outside the top ten. I wouldn’t put them over WG. 

[Idkwhattoputhere]

On 8/18/2025 at 4:18 PM, rudy12 said:

Way to early predictions

1  Lone Star

2 McKinney 

3 Argyle

4 Rock Hill

5 Memorial

6 McKinney North

7 Celina

8 Lebanon Trail

9 Sulphur Springs

10 Walnut Grove

 

Small School exhibition

Canton

Krum

 

Very interesting prediction, putting McKinney north below memorial

[Gpk1968]

2 hours ago, Idkwhattoputhere said:

Very interesting prediction, putting McKinney north below memorial

I completely missed that. They definitely need to be up….a lot. 

[cheesecurd21]

On 8/18/2025 at 4:18 PM, rudy12 said:

Way to early predictions

1  Lone Star

2 McKinney 

3 Argyle

4 Rock Hill

5 Memorial

6 McKinney North

7 Celina

8 Lebanon Trail

9 Sulphur Springs

10 Walnut Grove

 

Small School exhibition

Canton

Krum

 

North should definitely be fighting for top 4 up with Argyle... and Memorial has been doing well but not that well. LT should definitely be above Celina and Memorial, and Walnut will likely be up there ahead of them as well. No hate just what I think personally

[Percdude]

I feel like Little Elm is being slept on quite a bit.

[OGFISD99]

12 minutes ago, Percdude said:

I feel like Little Elm is being slept on quite a bit.

I agree... I think they may be the dark horse this year...