UIL 6A Area H 2025

[Tubalord11]

1 hour ago, dullbanddad said:

After what I saw Saturday LT needs to really improve the show to be a lock. It's early still but it wasn't a great showing on Saturday. Westlake on the other hand really impressed me

Yeah, I’m interested too see how Westlake’s show will do under UIL judging, but they could possibly take 2nd…..maybe. Vista usually peaks around area/State but I think Westlake could be back in state finals 

[Lowbrassguy42]

19 hours ago, Wakt said:

NISD has been to state numerous times and I'm not associated with LT. I'm just saying that Brandeis has a very low chance of beating LT. Almost 0.

I meant first time in a while since the redistricting. And idk they almost beat LT last year, and everybody seemed to have kept their eye on the two schools, so I’m sure Brandeis will want more this year than ever after being so close. While having access to a bigger pool of money does help a band get further, it’s not everything. And I do agree with you that LT has more money and more privilege, but I’m sure Brandeis wants to make state more than LT.

[WhoWouldKnow]

34 minutes ago, Lowbrassguy42 said:

I meant first time in a while since the redistricting. And idk they almost beat LT last year, and everybody seemed to have kept their eye on the two schools, so I’m sure Brandeis will want more this year than ever after being so close. While having access to a bigger pool of money does help a band get further, it’s not everything. And I do agree with you that LT has more money and more privilege, but I’m sure Brandeis wants to make state more than LT.

As someone from LT, our issues Saturday mostly focused on individual music performance; I'm not saying we're a lock for 4th place at Area, but this is something that usually improves a lot between the first and second rounds of competitions for us, especially after reevaluations for varsity spots and music editing. It's not that we want it less; we're trying to put a wide range of abilities on the field (with more freshmen than most years), and now that the first competition is over, we can make some changes, and I do think our show this year has a higher ceiling than previous years if we're able to reach it.

[Wakt]

59 minutes ago, Lowbrassguy42 said:

I meant first time in a while since the redistricting. And idk they almost beat LT last year, and everybody seemed to have kept their eye on the two schools, so I’m sure Brandeis will want more this year than ever after being so close. While having access to a bigger pool of money does help a band get further, it’s not everything. And I do agree with you that LT has more money and more privilege, but I’m sure Brandeis wants to make state more than LT.

It wasn't close at all. Brandeis didn't beat LT in anything last year. 19 vs. 25 and LT wasn't trying that hard. Wanting it more doesn't mean anything. If you have a $1k clarinet and you want to make All-State more than another kid with a $10k clarinet, you'd lose to the kid with the $10k clarinet. The difference between the cheap clarinet and expensive clarinet can't be overcome. 

[Lowbrassguy42]

50 minutes ago, WhoWouldKnow said:

As someone from LT, our issues Saturday mostly focused on individual music performance; I'm not saying we're a lock for 4th place at Area, but this is something that usually improves a lot between the first and second rounds of competitions for us, especially after reevaluations for varsity spots and music editing. It's not that we want it less; we're trying to put a wide range of abilities on the field (with more freshmen than most years), and now that the first competition is over, we can make some changes, and I do think our show this year has a higher ceiling than previous years if we're able to reach it.

You better watch it Mr. you never know what could happen… Jkjk ofc. I do see what you mean but a lot of the stuff you mentioned could also apply to Brandeis. We’ll just have to see how Brandeis does at boa San Marcos to start comparing the 2 schools this season. This year also seems like a tight race.

[Lowbrassguy42]

41 minutes ago, Wakt said:

It wasn't close at all. Brandeis didn't beat LT in anything last year. 19 vs. 25 and LT wasn't trying that hard. Wanting it more doesn't mean anything. If you have a $1k clarinet and you want to make All-State more than another kid with a $10k clarinet, you'd lose to the kid with the $10k clarinet. The difference between the cheap clarinet and expensive clarinet can't be overcome. 

Um… a lot of what you said was wrong. In prelims they beat LT in 2 captions and even beat westlake in one. Although Brandeis was in 5th across the board in finals, I’d say that it was still pretty close. @WhoWouldKnow since you went to LT, would you say that y’all were scared last year before finals results were announced. And the analogy you made about the expensive clarinet only has a slight correlation and not a causation plus there’s many gaps in the analogy too.

[WhoWouldKnow]

6 minutes ago, Lowbrassguy42 said:

You better watch it Mr. you never know what could happen… Jkjk ofc. I do see what you mean but a lot of the stuff you mentioned could also apply to Brandeis. We’ll just have to see how Brandeis does at boa San Marcos to start comparing the 2 schools this season. This year also seems like a tight race.

Lol we do hope they do well this season obviously - people talk a lot about the rivalry for 4th place but we admire Brandeis’s shows a lot and wish there was a way we both could make it. And maybe we’ll all be in the same boat one day if Rouse and Cedar Park become 6A…

[WhoWouldKnow]

3 minutes ago, Lowbrassguy42 said:

Um… a lot of what you said was wrong. In prelims they beat LT in 2 captions and even beat westlake in one. Although Brandeis was in 5th across the board in finals, I’d say that it was still pretty close. @WhoWouldKnow since you went to LT, would you say that y’all were scared last year before finals results were announced. And the analogy you made about the expensive clarinet only has a slight correlation and not a causation plus there’s many gaps in the analogy too.

You have no idea the tension before they announced us in 4th haha that run in prelims really scared us and we knew Brandeis could’ve had us if finals went the same way. Funny story, our band director before finals gave possibly the best speech I’ve ever heard, so good I think it singlehandedly got us 4th place lol

[Lowbrassguy42]

11 minutes ago, WhoWouldKnow said:

Lol we do hope they do well this season obviously - people talk a lot about the rivalry for 4th place but we admire Brandeis’s shows a lot and wish there was a way we both could make it. And maybe we’ll all be in the same boat one day if Rouse and Cedar Park become 6A…

Leander is 5 students away from being a 6a school…

[Wakt]

3 hours ago, Lowbrassguy42 said:

Um… a lot of what you said was wrong. In prelims they beat LT in 2 captions and even beat westlake in one. Although Brandeis was in 5th across the board in finals, I’d say that it was still pretty close. @WhoWouldKnow since you went to LT, would you say that y’all were scared last year before finals results were announced. And the analogy you made about the expensive clarinet only has a slight correlation and not a causation plus there’s many gaps in the analogy too.

No one cares about prelims. Finals is what is important. And what was wrong with my expensive clarinet analogy? It's true that if you have a better instrument, you have a much higher chance of making state.

[dullbanddad]

5 hours ago, Lowbrassguy42 said:

Leander is 5 students away from being a 6a school…

All the Leander ISD schools are right on the cusp of 5A/6A. Reclassifications will be really interesting 

[utee94]

56 minutes ago, dullbanddad said:

All the Leander ISD schools are right on the cusp of 5A/6A. Reclassifications will be really interesting 

For sure, but it's also possible and even likely that the threshold for 5A/6A will increase, and some of the LISD schools would remain 5A as a result.

[LeanderMomma]

On 9/22/2025 at 12:17 AM, Wakt said:

Doesn't mean anything. 

Chill. Now. 

[LeanderMomma]

On 9/22/2025 at 10:49 PM, Wakt said:

It wasn't close at all. Brandeis didn't beat LT in anything last year. 19 vs. 25 and LT wasn't trying that hard. Wanting it more doesn't mean anything. If you have a $1k clarinet and you want to make All-State more than another kid with a $10k clarinet, you'd lose to the kid with the $10k clarinet. The difference between the cheap clarinet and expensive clarinet can't be overcome. 

Stop. 

[lost]

The usual suspects are probably locks for state at this point.

Although I think O’Connor and Taft I think have a solid chance at taking Brandeis’ perennial “first-out” spot this year.

Lake Travis a little shakier than usual, but probably sizably still ahead the NISD bands. 

[seafoodbuffet]

I don’t see any of the region 32 crew missing from the top 4. This area really needs another state spot.

[Wakt]

23 minutes ago, seafoodbuffet said:

I don’t see any of the region 32 crew missing from the top 4. This area really needs another state spot.

No, it doesn't.

[utee94]

Sure it does.

Just got back from the Leander ISD Festival of Bands, what a great group of bands.  Vista Ridge has a nice show and I have no doubt they'll peak later in the season like they always do, but wow Vandegrift is just on another level right now.  They're so clean, so tight, so well put together.  This is absolutely a state championship contender.

 

 

[utee94]

 

Ah I see where this is going.  I will not feed the

 

[dullbanddad]

15 hours ago, utee94 said:

Sure it does.

Just got back from the Leander ISD Festival of Bands, what a great group of bands.  Vista Ridge has a nice show and I have no doubt they'll peak later in the season like they always do, but wow Vandegrift is just on another level right now.  They're so clean, so tight, so well put together.  This is absolutely a state championship contender.

 

 

It's such a great event. Where else can you see 5 of the top 20 bands in the country for under $10. I enjoyed Glen's show as well, you can see the promise in that band. I hope they can get their numbers up so they can be competitive as well.

[seafoodbuffet]

Land of 1000 Tempo’s was a glorious mess last night at the LISD event but honestly, band for band I think it’s the most density of top quality bands of any event.

[Lowbrassguy42]

On 9/28/2025 at 11:37 PM, lost said:

The usual suspects are probably locks for state at this point.

Although I think O’Connor and Taft I think have a solid chance at taking Brandeis’ perennial “first-out” spot this year.

Lake Travis a little shakier than usual, but probably sizably still ahead the NISD bands. 

O’Connor definitely surprised everyone at BOA San Marcos as a finalist while Brandeis wasn’t. But I doubt that they can take them over because they have the kind of show that will peak earlier on in the season and will be harder to improve late in the season because it’s not designed to be as hard as some of the mid-high caliber bands’ shows(ie: Lake Travis, Brandeis, McNeil) . And Taft looks even less likely this season to take the first out position because at USbands Austin Brandeis beat them by a whole 3 point difference. But who knows, maybe Holmes will beat lake Travis and make state finals this year or something. It’s always hard to make accurate predictions early on in the season.

[utee94]

20 hours ago, dullbanddad said:

It's such a great event. Where else can you see 5 of the top 20 bands in the country for under $10. I enjoyed Glen's show as well, you can see the promise in that band. I hope they can get their numbers up so they can be competitive as well.

Totally agree, I put my comments about Glenn on the 5A thread, but they're definitely fun to watch.  In some ways it's very refreshing, because they really appear to be so full of joy, and having a great time.

I'm not sure I can say the same about all of the other LISD bands, at least not all the time-- often times it seems they're just working so hard and it's tough for them to have a lot of fun.  I include my own kids in that statement, they put a LOT of pressure on themselves.

I was in marching band in high school and had  great time.  But not only were we not a particularly competitive band, but the landscape at the time also wasn't nearly as competitive as it is now.  We didn't even start our UIL show until a few weeks before Region, we just did spirit shows and stand tunes for the first 1/3rd of the season.

 

[seafoodbuffet]

2 hours ago, utee94 said:

I'm not sure I can say the same about all of the other LISD bands, at least not all the time-- often times it seems they're just working so hard and it's tough for them to have a lot of fun.

While I can’t speak for every LISD band, I know every one of my kids’ band directors past and present have emphasized that competitive results aren’t the goal of band. The kids work hard because they’re driven to excellence and that excellence, like anything worth doing, takes effort.

But if you need any evidence that they’re having fun, witness the drumlines/trombones from several schools who put on an impromptu performance of trombone suicide and then played cadences after retreat. I’m glad they’re relaxed enough to do that. That was perhaps my favorite part of the night.

[utee94]

18 minutes ago, seafoodbuffet said:

While I can’t speak for every LISD band, I know every one of my kids’ band directors past and present have emphasized that competitive results aren’t the goal of band. The kids work hard because they’re driven to excellence and that excellence, like anything worth doing, takes effort.

But if you need any evidence that they’re having fun, witness the drumlines/trombones from several schools who put on an impromptu performance of trombone suicide and then played cadences after retreat. I’m glad they’re relaxed enough to do that. That was perhaps my favorite part of the night.

Oh yeah, they have fun, for sure.  My kids wouldn't keep doing it if they didn't love it. 

But they still put a tremendous amount of pressure on themselves, and regardless of what the band directors say, those directors are also extremely competitive and wouldn't be putting in the work THEY do, if they didn't want the band they direct to score well, and place in the results.  And the kids DO  pick up on that.