Lone Star Preview 10/01
In recent years, a weekend with only one BOA contest and no UIL contests has been rare, and this weekend is one of the few. Because of this, we see many more local shows headlined by bands ranked in GEM’s Top 25. Not only are there these contests with big names going on, but there are a lot of contests that highlight smaller bands that don’t compete in BOA that often.
Just as was done last week, we will first go over the USBands contests, of which there are four: one Showcase and three Regionals. The first event is the Goliad Showcase, held in the town of the same name, just a half hour’s drive southwest of Victoria. Given the isolated nature of the contest, the biggest names in attendance are the likes of Ganado (TX) (UIL 2A Area E State Qualifier) and Yoakum (TX) (UIL 3A Area E State Qualifier). Then, going up to the Houston Regional in Webster, we see many more familiar names, including one that will excite long-time BOA fans. Some local bands that will make the show intriguing include Klein Cain (TX) and Porter (TX). However, the band I alluded to earlier is neither a local nor even a Texas band. Instead, former BOA Grand Nationals Finalist Lafayette (LA) is traveling across the border to this regional to compete with these Houston bands and challenge for the title. (UPDATE: Lafayette no longer appears on the schedule, so it appears they have dropped the contest) The other two regionals are the Hill Country Regional in San Antonio and the Dallas Regional (confusingly) in Fort Worth. At the San Antonio contest, bands such as Pieper (TX), Tom C. Clark (TX), and William J. Brennan (TX) will be battling it out for the title. Meanwhile, up in Fort Worth, most of the competition will be between Lewisville (TX), Red Oak (TX), and W.E. Boswell (TX).
Staying in the DFW area, all three of the LISD North trifecta (#8 Marcus (TX), #4 Hebron (TX), and #6 Flower Mound (TX)) split up between local contests. #6 Flower Mound will be competing at the Wylie Marching Invitational, where many expect them to win comfortably over the likes of Keller Central (TX), McKinney Boyd (TX), and Sachse (TX). #4 Hebron will be at the Mesquite Marching Festival, which will also see some UIL 5A/6A bands like Aledo (TX) and Rockwall (TX) attend, but also smaller bands such as Canton (TX).
The most competitive of the contests attended by the LISD North trifecta is the HEB Marching Contest (no, not the grocery store) headlined by #8 Marcus along with #19 Coppell (TX), Forney (TX), #25 Keller (TX), Prosper (TX), Timber Creek (TX), and Wakeland (TX). While most expect #8 Marcus to win this contest handily, #19 Coppell and #25 Keller could take captions off #8 Marcus. While the other four bands I listed probably will not be competitive with #8 Marcus, they all have histories of success and are solid programs that could punch up on the more established names in the area.
Even with those three contests, there are still more contests to discuss in the DFW area! Starting small, we have the Aubrey Marching Contest, consisting entirely of bands in Class 4A and below. The favorite to take home the title is Whitesboro (TX), who will also be attending the BOA Bedford Regional next weekend, but Celina (TX), Sanger (TX), and Van Alstyne (TX) are programs that should be on your radar too. Next is the Sounds of Fall Marching Classic hosted by Princeton (TX), which consistently draws in many of the top corps-style bands in East Texas, but also has some pull within the DFW Area. The bands, both big and small, include Argyle (TX), North Lamar (TX), and Royse City (TX). The final DFW contest is the Plano East Marching Invitational, which includes Braswell (TX), Richland (TX), and Rock Hill (TX).
Finally, we get to leave DFW. Let’s start by heading south on I-35 to Austin with a quick stop in Waco for the Midway Marching Preview. At this contest are a lot of smaller bands, such as China Spring (TX), but also 5A/6A bands College Station (TX), Granbury (TX), and Harker Heights (TX). After that, let’s stop in Cedar Park to see the bands at the Vista Ridge Marching Festival with their absurdly stacked judging panel. Just a handful of the bands who will be here include McCallum (TX), McNeil (TX), Weiss (TX), Westwood (TX), and Winston Churchill (TX). After their fantastic performance at BOA Austin, this contest looks like Westwood’s to lose, but McCallum, in particular, is a group that could surprise us. Even outside these five programs, there is much room for upsets and interesting storylines on who will make finals and who will miss.
Going further south to the San Antonio area, we have two contests. The first of which is the Seguin Marching Festival featuring names like Comal Canyon (TX), Douglas MacArthur (TX), and Earl Warren (TX). Occurring down the road in Converse is the Judson Rocket Review Marching Contest, where Moe and Gene Johnson (TX) are doing their second independent contest of the season but will have a little competition from Northside ISD bands such as Sandra Day O’Connor (TX) and John M. Harlan (TX).
Before making our way back to Houston, let’s take a quick detour from one San to another to the Concho Classic Marching Festival in San Angelo, featuring performances by a few bands who will be at BOA Midland, including Andrews (TX), Pecos (TX), and TLCA San Angelo (TX). Also, out west is the High Plains Marching Contest in Amarillo, where almost all of the area’s bands, such as Canyon (TX), annually attend. Finally, almost right on the border between Texas and New Mexico in Denver City, the Tumbleweed Marching Festival will host Lubbock bands and other nearby programs such as Frenship (TX).
Looping our way back to Houston, the final contest we’re discussing is the Galena Park Marching Festival. Many of the remaining Houston bands not at BOA Katy or USBands Houston will compete here. The most notable bands here are Dickinson (TX), Tomball (TX), and Westfield (TX).
Even outside of all the contests listed above, exciting things are happening all around the state. So if you’re in the area, check one of them out, even if it isn’t BOA!
Aaron Blackley is one of the original contributors for General Effect Media. Despite being young and fresh out of college, he has a vast knowledge and passion for the marching arts and has worked alongside the likes of HornRank as a ranker and moderator as well as the TxBands.com liveblog team since summer 2021. He can be found on Twitter as @GEMAaronB.