Roaring Band from Tigerland advances to area

Linden-Kildare’s Roaring Band from Tigerland advanced to the UIL area competition after scoring a 1-1-2 at the regional contest in Sulphur Springs last week.

The amazing exhibition by the band is a product of hard work and dedication during a boisterous pandemic.

Tiger Band Director Ron Williams was ecstatic to see students return to school in August after COVID-19 set up the longest Spring Break in recorded history.

The band worked tirelessly to prepare for a football and marching season that could have been canceled at any moment.

Mr. Williams said that although restrictions had been set forth concerning the pandemic the band was blessed to have no COVID interruptions.

He also talked about the help from administration when needed concerning social distancing and safety. “Our administration has been great in help

“Our administration has been great in helping the band program find solutions during this pandemic. The administration here at L-K has an open door policy and no matter if the answer is yes or no they listen with an open mind,” Williams remarked. “When we faced travel issues due to social distancing they allowed us to take two school buses which gave us greater room to space the kids out and allowed us to use the high school auditorium for distancing instead of the band hall where space is diminished.” This season the Roaring Band from Tigerland

This season the Roaring Band from Tigerland competed in two invitational events, attended most of the football games and put in a great performance at regionals.

“We very excited about our accomplishment at regionals and we are fired up about making it to area,” Williams said. “At the regional level the judging is set on band standards but at area it will be more of a band versus band judging style and we feel confident we can compete and grab a spot for state.”

Williams expects anywhere from 15 to 22 bands at the area event.

In both area and state contests, for prelims and final round, if there are 14 to 19 bands that qualify for an area/state contest the top seven bands will advance from the preliminary round to the final round.

In addition, in the five-judge system only, any band below seventh place that receives a ranking of three or higher from at least two of the music judges and one of the visual judges will also advance to the final round.

If there are 20 to 29 bands that qualify for an area/state contest the top 10 bands will advance from the prelims to the final round.

In addition, in the five-judge system only, any band below tenth place that receives a ranking of three or higher from at least two of the music judges and one of the visual judges will also advance to the final round.

The way the Tiger band is rolling along they have a chance to make some noise and roar into the state competition.

“We have a chance to make state for the first time in 15 years and feel we can be one of the top bands at area,” Williams stated. “We have nothing to lose. We have worked hard and will do our best, and will celebrate whether we make it or not because we have met and exceeded our expectations.”

The Roaring Band from Tigerland will compete in the area finals at Lindale High School on Dec. 5.