Several local marching bands headed to area contests
Oct. 21—The Cleburne High School Golden Pride Band is one of several Johnson County bands advancing to the UIL area marching contests.
CHS is competing in the UIL Area F 5A contest on Saturday at Birdville Fine Arts/Athletic Complex. The Pride will take the field at 1:30 p.m. in preliminary performance.
The band received 1st Division ratings from all judges at the Region 30 All-Region Band contest on Oct. 11. This year's UIL contest show is "A Day at the Zoo," with the Pride taking visitors on a musical and visual tour — from the aviary, the aquarium and the elephant enclosure — to the lions and tigers and bears.
"This was one of our strongest performances at the Region 30 contest in recent years," Assistant Director Brock Feller said. "The energy and efforts from our band members has been fantastic. We are very excited to be advancing to the Area contest."
Cleburne has produced solid showings throughout the fall competition season. The Pride took fourth place at the USBands Crowley Marching competition and placed seventh overall at the Birdville Marching Festival.
Fifth-graders from the district's seven elementary campuses had the opportunity to see the band in action at the Golden Pride Rock the Rock school day performance at Jacket Stadium on Wednesday. Also in attendance were seventh- and eighth-grade band students from Smith and Wheat middle schools.
"We have been hosting this performance for the past few years," Feller said. "This gives our fifth-graders an introductory look into our program, as pvrospective band students beginning in the sixth grade. Rock the Rock also provides our middle school musicians with a visual of what they will experience during marching season as members of the Cleburne High School Golden Pride."
Senior members of the band and the Cleburne High School Showstoppers Dance Team will be recognized in 6:30 pre-game ceremonies at Jacket Stadium on Friday, before kick-off against Killeen Shoemaker. Candidates for Mr. and Miss Golden Pride will be introduced, with the 2022 honorees announced.
Nominees for Miss Golden Pride are Emily Day, Melissa Griffin, Hillary McBroom, Amy Scott and Maryn Tennison. Mr. Golden Pride candidates include Thomas Cox, Kevin DeAngelo, Alonzo Gonzalez, Felipe Muzquiz and Josh Salgado.
Tickets for Saturday's 5A Area F marching contest are $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. They may be purchased online using this link: uil-areaf-5a-marching-contest.square.site.
Performances will begin at 9:45 a.m., with finals starting at 7:15 p.m. A total of 22 bands will be competing in the hopes of being among the ten selected to advance to the 5A State Marching Contest.
Alvarado
The Alvarado High School Golden Warrior Band earned their 15th consecutive First Division Superior rating at the Region UIL Marching Band Contest on Oct. 15. The band advanced to the area level of competition and will compete Oct. 29 at Liberty Hill High School.
Godley
The Godley Wildcat Band earned a Division I rating at the UIL region marching contest on Saturday at Springtown High School.
The "Pure Imagination" marching show received the top rating from all three judges, who evaluated Class 2A, 3A and 4A groups in Region 30 of the Texas Music Educators Association. The rating allows the band to advance to area competition on Oct. 29 at Liberty Hill High School. Their performance begins at 5:30 p.m.
Music for the fall marching show includes "Overture from Back to School," "This is Halloween," "Not While I'm Around," "Carnival from Hell" and "Pure Imagination."
The region competition follows the Pride of Godley placing 10th at the US Bands Saginaw Regional on Sept. 24, seventh at the Aubrey Marching Classic on Oct. 1 and seventh at the AT&T Stadium Classic on Oct. 4. Godley won Best in Class awards and swept caption awards for music, visual, overall effect, percussion and colorguard.
The band is under the direction of Joe Walker, who is assisted by Grayson Hancock, Michelle Slayton, David Kennedy and Caleb Hunter. Drum majors are Dylan Dunn-Peacock and Alexis Jacobi, and colorguard captain is Chloe Brown.
Grandview
Grandview High School's Thundering Herd band received a First Division rating at the UIL Region 30 Marching contest on Saturday. They will compete at the area contest this Saturday at Robinson High School.
Joshua
The Spirit of Joshua Band from Joshua High School competed Oct. 11 at the UIL Region 30 Marching competition in Saginaw, earning straight 1st division Superior ratings for their performance of their show "Toxic."
The band will now advance to the UIL Area F Marching Contest on Saturday at Birdville Stadium.
Rio Vista
On Oct. 1, Rio Vista High School's Eagle Pride Band traveled to Glen Rose for the annual Paluxy Valley Marching Festival. The band competed against some of the best bands in the area and came away with several awards, including the Best in Class 2A trophy.
The 2A UIL Music Area D contest is Oct. 29 at Bastrop ISD Stadium.
Venus
Venus High School's Bulldog Band received a Division 1 rating at The Sounds of Springtown UIL Marching Competition on Saturday. They will compete at area Oct. 29 at Liberty Hill High School.
