Winnsboro Contest 2025

[Trumpeter75]

Due to weather this contest has changed to mainly 3a bands playing a one and done finals. 
 

[TexasStrangers]

35 minutes ago, Trumpeter75 said:

Due to weather this contest has changed to mainly 3a bands playing a one and done finals. 
 

darn, well that changed quickly.

[Kmt1]

The electronics have changed this world.     I support electronics.      This will still be a great festival.    I'd not call it a contest now.      Just a time for some critiques.      Good luck to everyone.  And be safe.  

[Kmt1]

After The battle of the Spear contest this weekend Redwater is the superior band of the  class of 3A field.     They really have it all and should be favored to win the gold at region.   Mineola may have an edge through the consistency, but the other potential medalist have exposed their weakness.    Some bands exposed the weakness in upper brass.    Thought that they might over perform but they present a weak in upper register voices that they can not overcome  

Most others are Balanced.   And they will be in contention for a medal.      This will be a great season and a direct reflection on the trajectory of band.  I'm sure the superintendents  are keeping close eye.  The quality of direction in their program.    The question is.    Are they still motivated or just wanting to ride out to retirement?   What's best for these young people?Motivator or complacent.....we will see based on their expertise in these next threee  weeks.  

Edited October 19, 2025 by Kmt1
No edits.

[Kmt1]

Well.   I'd guess who came in where because the normal feed did not indecision.      
 

queen cuty 

quitman 

and wills point.  
 

 

congratulations. 

[Trumpeter75]

Battle of the spear results. Due to weather being an issues most of the afternoon and evening the event was switched to a one and done event.  Most of the large 4-5a bands withdrew and I had the notion some may pull out just for the fact their bands had been busy over the past 3 weeks and area was just around the corner. With that said there were 11 bands at this contest. Most were 3A bands in and around the area with Hope coming in from Arkansas. 
 

results:

1.  Redwater - best colorguard and percussion

2.  Wills Point-changed after tiebreaker—at event nothing was reported on this so must have happened after the fact 

3.  Atlanta

4.  QC

5.  Grand saline

6. Hope (kind of a shocker for me)

7.  Quitman

8.  Hooks

9.  Mt vernon

10.  Edgewood

11.  Malakoff

 

Yes, I know the competition may not have had the punch that it would have e if weather wasn’t a factor.  Redwater did what they need to do.  I thought they improved from their last showing, especially from Friday nights show.  Electronics still an issue with some soloist working better then others  hopefully that can be ironed out before state.  I thought the woodwind ensemble sounded better tonight then they have—I think the quartet still needs work .  I love the brassy punch at the first of-Here we are, but others may not like that.  I look at it as having 4-5 moments where you hand over the credit card and just plaster people to the wall.  Still work in progress but making improvements as they go  I think their ensemble blend will do well at state in the large dome  

Atlanta just was uninspiring to me.  They sound good at times but nothing just punches me or makes me wanna give my credit card to them.  Ending of show is just like—ok was that it?  They have 12 tubas and I am was waiting for that deep punch in the middle song and it just did not happen.  
The others were just forgettable to me  nothing to make me really stop my thought and go —who’s that!  I think several have made great gains from last year —hooks and Quitman but still a ways away from Mineola and Redwater 

I think it will be a two dog race at area between Redwater and Mineola.  Both have great shows and depending on judges and kids that day, and electronics could change the outcome  Just my thought from a band dad  

 

Edited October 19, 2025 by Trumpeter75

[Littlejoe]

1 hour ago, Trumpeter75 said:

Battle of the spear results. Due to weather being an issues most of the afternoon and evening the event was switched to a one and done event.  Most of the large 4-5a bands withdrew and I had the notion some may pull out just for the fact their bands had been busy over the past 3 weeks and area was just around the corner. With that said there were 11 bands at this contest. Most were 3A bands in and around the area with Hope coming in from Arkansas. 
 

results:

1.  Redwater - best colorguard and percussion

2.  Atlanta

3.  Willis Point

4.  QC

5.  Grand saline

6. Hope (kind of a shocker for me)

7.  Quitman

8.  Hooks

9.  Mt vernon

10.  Edgewood

11.  Malakoff

 

Yes, I know the competition may not have had the punch that it would have e if weather wasn’t a factor.  Redwater did what they need to do.  I thought they improved from their last showing, especially from Friday nights show.  Electronics still an issue with some soloist working better then others  hopefully that can be ironed out before state.  I thought the woodwind ensemble sounded better tonight then they have—I think the quartet still needs work .  I love the brassy punch at the first of-Here we are, but others may not like that.  I look at it as having 4-5 moments where you hand over the credit card and just plaster people to the wall.  Still work in progress but making improvements as they go  I think their ensemble blend will do well at state in the large dome  

Atlanta just was uninspiring to me.  They sound good at times but nothing just punches me or makes me wanna give my credit card to them.  Ending of show is just like—ok was that it?  They have 12 tubas and I am was waiting for that deep punch in the middle song and it just did not happen.  
The others were just forgettable to me  nothing to make me really stop my thought and go —who’s that!  I think several have made great gains from last year —hooks and Quitman but still a ways away from Mineola and Redwater 

I think it will be a two dog race at area between Redwater and Mineola.  Both have great shows and depending on judges and kids that day, and electronics could change the outcome  Just my thought from a band dad  

 

Wills point actually came in 2nd they took the tie breaker over Atlanta. Atlanta got bumped down to third.

[Trumpeter75]

5 hours ago, Mclaughlinjer11 said:

Wills point actually came in 2nd they took the tie breaker over Atlanta. Atlanta got bumped down to third.

That was not how they were called out at the event. 

 

5 hours ago, Mclaughlinjer11 said:

Wills point actually came in 2nd they took the tie breaker over Atlanta. Atlanta got bumped down to third.

 

[Trumpeter75]

5 minutes ago, Trumpeter75 said:

That was not how they were called out at the event. 

 

 

Seen on Wills point page an hour later they got second. But at event nothing was noted while students and spectators were watching. 

[TexasStrangers]

9 hours ago, Kmt1 said:

After The battle of the Spear contest this weekend Redwater is the superior band of the  class of 3A field.     They really have it all and should be favored to win the gold at region.   Mineola may have an edge through the consistency, but the other potential medalist have exposed their weakness.    Some bands exposed the weakness in upper brass.    Thought that they might over perform but they present a weak in upper register voices that they can not overcome  

Most others are Balanced.   And they will be in contention for a medal.      This will be a great season and a direct reflection on the trajectory of band.  I'm sure the superintendents  are keeping close eye.  The quality of direction in their program.    The question is.    Are they still motivated or just wanting to ride out to retirement?   What's best for these young people?Motivator or complacent.....we will see based on their expertise in these next threee  weeks.  

I don't see how you can say they are going to win the Gold based off of that competition. Yes, the Redwater show last night was a great show and I think capable of winning another medal.

Yes, they beat Mineola at the beginning of the year but I don't put a lot of stick in the first competition of the season due to shows not being ready and lots of changes that still have to happen. Redwater did the same thing last year beating Mineola at the first competition of the season only to have Mineola come back and win Area and then win State. It's not how you start the year, it's about the journey of going to competitions week after week to better your show and make changes that need to happen in order to finish strong. 

How did they Redwater really expose Mineola's weakness? I think bands expose their own weaknesses not the other way around. The Mineola Color Guard is the best in the business and beat Redwater earlier in the year and has dominated pretty much everywhere they have gone. Yes, Redwater has a great sound and a good percussion group and I think it's just too close to call right now between Mineola and Redwater. I can see it going either way. Mineola has gotten a lot better every week and is beating 4A/5A schools in areas that went to State last year. 

I think the dust will settle a little bit on the November 1st when we get to see all the 3A bands together at Area in Whitehouse and a little preview of what State could look like to make a better judgment on who and what.