Area bands make another appearance on big stage

Both Atlanta’s Big Bad Band from Rabbit Land and Queen City’s Band of Champions have become mainstays at the UIL state marching competition.

Along with Redwater and the military-style band from New Boston, this area is rich with band tradition and excellence.

Each band entered this season with one main goal to check off…make it to San Antonio or as they say, “Dome Sweet Dome”.

After solid performances last week at regionals, where Atlanta finished second overall and QC third, both bands earned entry into the state marching contest at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Atlanta’s show is titled “The Awakening” and the music is Blackbird by the Beatles, Symphony No. 25 by Mozart, Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky and Fly to Paradise by Whitacre.

The Big Bad Band from Rabbit Land made all ones at each of its contests this year, has been awarded several caption awards as well as grand champion at the Mt. Pleasant contest and finished second overall in the area competition last Saturday in Lindale.

Band Director Keith Sanders had this to say about sealing up another opportunity to perform at state.

“Going to the state marching contest is an unbelievable achievement. Our area of East Texas is loaded with quality 3 A bands,” Sanders said. “We are fortunate enough to have made it there the last eight opportunities. The look on the kids’ face when they realize that we are going to San Antonio is what makes this all worthwhile.”

Queen City’s show is titled “Vikings” and the music is Ride of the Valkyrie by Wagner, Theme from Vikings and original music by Roderick Boyce, Jr., where Boyce arranged all of the music for the band.

The design for this year’s show was put together by Marching 365.

In competition this year the Band of Champions placed fifth in the Pleasant Grove contest, eighth at Princeton, third in Celina third in area and had straight 1’s at regionals.

Band Director Billy Vess had this to say about making it back to San Antonio.

“Awesome! To watch the kids grow, watch their failures and to be able to pick back up, work hard and get better…that’s what we as directors are most proud of,” Vess Said. “Getting to state is just icing on the cake.”