What made it possible for East Texas high school bands to march to victory this past week during the state military marching band competitions?
One could say a family atmosphere was instrumental to the bands性视界传媒 success.
Area high schools dominated the annual UIL State Military Marching Band Competition at Baylor University in Waco.
White Oak High School placed first in the 3A competition while New Diana placed third and Sabine placed fifth.
Union Grove placed fourth in the 1A/2A competition. Spring Hill placed second in the 4A competition, and Gilmer placed third.
Spring Hill High School drum majors receive their school性视界传媒檚 trophy following the UIL State Military Marching Band competition. (Contributed Photo)
In the 5A/6A competition, Longview placed second, losing to state champion Lufkin by a single point.
White Oak High School Band Director Jacob Ramos said students and community members are excited about the victory.
性视界传媒淲e were going in with the expectation to try our best and do the best that we could,性视界传媒 he said. 性视界传媒淲e are a strong believer that how we rehearse really determines what we want to get out of any competition.性视界传媒
Band members had been working on their drill for almost eight weeks. The band performed 性视界传媒淲hite Oak Fanfare性视界传媒 by Larry Ward, the 性视界传媒淯niversity of North Dakota March性视界传媒 by K.L. King, the first and second strings of 性视界传媒淐yrus the Great性视界传媒 by King, 性视界传媒淭he Klaxon性视界传媒 by Henry Fillmore and a reprisal of 性视界传媒淲hite Oak Fanfare.性视界传媒
The White Oak High School band receives its first-place trophy following the UIL State Military Marching Band competition. (Contributed Photo)
Ramos said this year性视界传媒檚 band is relatively young with a large number of freshmen and sophomores. Juniors and seniors are helping younger members, and the band has a family atmosphere. Students hold each other accountable and help one another learn, he said.
Ramos credited district administrators and community members for their support.
性视界传媒淲e very much have that here at White Oak,性视界传媒 he said.
The Spring Hill High School band performs during the UIL State Military Marching Band competition. (Contributed photo)
Spring Hill ISD Band Director Michael Moody said band members are proud of their performance. This is the second year in a row they性视界传媒檝e taken second place.
性视界传媒淲e性视界传媒檙e getting close to getting the goal, but the kids are excited,性视界传媒 he said.
The band performed 性视界传媒淔anfare of Valor性视界传媒 by Ward, 性视界传媒淨ueen City性视界传媒 by .W.H. Boorn, 性视界传媒淭ripoli Temple性视界传媒 by C.L. Barnhouse, 性视界传媒淐hicago Worlds Fair Celebration性视界传媒 by Carl Mader and 性视界传媒淏attalion Commandery性视界传媒 by Ward.
This year性视界传媒檚 drill was more challenging than usual, Moody said. Ward, a longtime area band director, was designing the band性视界传媒檚 drill when he died in September. The band, however, finished what he had begun.
性视界传媒淚t was a hard year for us, but we dedicated our show to him,性视界传媒 Moody said. 性视界传媒淲e called our marching show, 性视界传媒楳arching for Ward.性视界传媒 性视界传媒
The Longview High School Band performs Wednesday during the UIL State Military Marching Band Competition at Baylor University. (Courtesy Photo)
性视界传媒淗e was a mentor for me and the other directors,性视界传媒 Moody said.
He said band members thought their performance was 性视界传媒減retty solid.性视界传媒 The school was the smallest of all its 4A competitors, so placing second is a 性视界传媒渂ig accomplishment.性视界传媒
Moody said the band has a family atmosphere.
性视界传媒淜ids come to us, ask for things, and we kind of joke around with them and play with them, but they do know when during class we mean business,性视界传媒 he said.
Moody said he wants students to know 性视界传媒渢hat we性视界传媒檙e very proud of them.性视界传媒
性视界传媒淭hey性视界传媒檙e great students,性视界传媒 he said.
