In preparation for the UIL regional marching competition on Oct. 19, the band program competed in several fall competitions including the Mesquite Marching Festival on Sept. 28 and the Band of America’s Dallas Mid-Cities Regional Competition on Oct. 5. In both competitions, the band placed first.
“In general, we were very pleased with the [outcomes,]” head band director Andy Sealy said. “What I’m more pleased with is the kids’ progress over the [last few] weeks.”
This year’s show, “Amorphous,” resembles shapelessness and lack of pattern. Head drum major Steven Solis Welch said the momentum of both competitions needs to be maintained to develop the show further.
“Not only is [the show different in] the drill moves of the marchers and [the] choreography, but [also] very different [in] each section of the show,” Solis Welch said. “It starts with a very strong, powerful piece of music; then, the ballad is a very slow, soft, emotional piece. Then when the closer starts, [it’s] almost circus-y sounding.”
At the UIL regional competition, the band must compete in a two-phase competition. The first phase requires the band to place top 10 to qualify for finals and the second phase will only take the top six, who will qualify for the area championships.
“This show is a lot simpler and straightforward than the past two years,” Solis Welch said, “It has been a little easier to get a grasp [of] for the marchers and everyone in the band program, but there’s a lot of potential for it. [There are] a lot of small details [to work on] that will get us far.”
This is the third year in a row that the band has won BOA Dallas, and it finished with a score of 87.600. The band won the titles for Outstanding Music Performance, Outstanding General Effect and tied with Flower Mound for Outstanding Visual Performance.
“The kids did well that night,” Sealy said. “The things we were good at were good, and the things we were bad at needed work, but they did fine on what their skill level and content was. We were super happy with the [overall] outcome.”
Due to the third segment of the show currently being incomplete, the band only performed two out of the three show segments in both competitions, which Sealy said is regular for the early-season. Squad leader Kenneth Han said that despite the winning streak, as the band continues through the fall, work is still needed from the performers.
“I feel like a lot of the band members are just expecting to win,” Han said. “We’re good, and we can win these contests, but it shouldn’t be expected. We still have to work for the wins we get.”
