Battle Of The Bands

Turning it up: Three Bosque County marching bands stomp to the 2023 UIL State Contest as the stars align in unprecedented way as Meridian advances in Class 1A, Valley Mills in Class 2A and Clifton in Class 3A

The University Interscholastic League Music Program is designed to support and enrich the teaching of music as an integral component of the public school curriculum in the state of Texas. Music encompasses all forms of school subjects; it is language, reading, history, science, math, physical education, and art all rolled into one.

So you could say, music is life. And this year, Bosque County band students took all they learned and took it to a whole new level of excellence.

Bosque County concluded “Bandtober” by amazingly sending not one, not two, but three Region 8, Area D Marching Bands to University Interscholastic League State Marching Band Contest at the Alamodome in San Antonio in November, all finishing among the top 10 marching bands of their classification. Meridian’s Band of Gold competed in Class 1A and finished eighth, Valley Mills competed in Class 2A, finishing seventh and The Pride of Clifton competed in Class 3A finishing ninth.

Alumnus of MHS and Band Director for a year and a half, Daniel Yguerabide took 51 students – mostly underclassmen and two seniors to State UIL Marching contest for the first time in the history of Meridian Independent School District and its band program.

Yguerabide is especially proud of the talent, dedication, and desire that was demonstrated at top level The Alamodome contest Nov. 7. And according to Yguerabide, if you were to ask the students which of the 15 1A bands at state they went to beat, it would be the older version of themselves! And they did just that, proudly representing their hashtags #wearemeridian, #riseasone and #livingthedream.

“It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life to be a part of the program once again,” Yguerabide said. “The band is full of children or relatives of band alumni, so this moment reflects the pride and legacy of so many in the community. I am beyond proud of the band for their achievements this year. Performing in The Alamodome at State is an experience they will never forget. We reached new heights and set new expectations. Band member Colby Cummings said it best, ‘We broke new ground.’"

One of the largest 1A bands in the state, the MHS marching band is comprised of 56 members, including musicians and band aides. The band’s student leadership includes drum majors Lana Morones, Kenneth Martin III, and Benjamin Beaudin; percussion captain Issac Lira; and color guard captain Elizabeth Brooks.

When deciding on music for this year, Yguerabide also wanted a fresh take on what the Band of Gold has traditionally put on the field, choosing a show that offered a story.

“It is important to find music literature that compliments the ensemble,” Yguerabide said of his music choice Shockwave by Randall Standridge. “There needs to be personal buy-in. If the students are engaged, they will show it in their performance. Judges will see that! They just want to see you do it well.”

"Shockwave" embodies the heroine of the piece with "Caution" serving as the villain. Part One illustrates the tension building between the two characters. Mixed with melodic feminine phrasing, and upbeat rhythmic chaos, the stage is set for the arrival of the heroine in Part Two. Shockwave is welcomed by a baritone solo by sophomore Ellie Baker, in a graceful flow of power and strength. The ballad builds toward a noble call to arms as the brass section takes a knee to represent the unity of the ensemble.

The end of the section is marked by the augmentation of the melody, presented by the alto sax freshman Zeek Mabry. Part three is Shockwave’s triumph as she battles the villain in a fast-paced duel. The band's visuals and high energy battle-like moves including Color guard Captain Elizabeth Brooks and her two fellow guardsmen illustrating the scene.

“Music is the most important aspect of the marching contest, but it is not what builds the team,” said Yguerabide about his band. “I knew last year this particular group of students had the ability to entertain new concepts and expectations.

“My goal was to express the following: What are we working for? What are our personal goals? How can we break new ground and establish something long term for the MHS music program? It was important that we as a collective group knew the "why" and not just the end goal.”

“This is a very special group of musicians,” Meridian Assistant Band Director Toney Rogers said. “They knocked out our three-year plan in one year, then knocked out the five-year plan in two years.”

The Pride of Clifton band with the hashtag #leave no doubt is no stranger to UIL State Marching Band competition. For the fourth time since 2015, the Class 3A band from Region 8 advanced by winning the Area D Championship this year. Led by drum majors Kaitlyn Baker and Chelsea Canapi, The Pride of Clifton took 76 band members performing their Diverging Dreams program – an adaptation of Luke McMillan’s 2023 “Dreams and Nightmares” – to the Alamodome Nov. 8. The 2023 Region 8, Area D Champion band consists of 17 freshmen, 19 sophomores, 26 juniors and 16 seniors.

“I think having more experienced leadership members to guide and teach our younger members has really helped us this season,” Clifton Band Director Matt Nelson said. “Also, our band staff [Nelson is assisted by Alison Hamilton and Robert Thomas] having a year experienced teaching together has made us a more cohesive unit too. The cohesion between our staff and student leadership building trust with our band members is what led to our success this year.”

Nelson came to Clifton as assistant band director starting the 2018-19 school year, taking over as Band Director in Spring 2019.

“Since I started in 2018, this year my juniors are the students that started out as beginner band students my first year at Clifton,” Nelson said. “This year has been very special to me for the fact that nearly the entire band program are students that I have taught since their first year of band. This is the first year the band feels like my band program. Making it to State and advancing to the Finals with this group has made it all the more special because of that reason. These students have taken a chance on a young band director with lots to learn and I am so honored and proud to get to be their band director.”

This year’s music program “Diverging Dreams” was a custom or commissioned show, specially arranged for the Clifton High School Band by composer McMillan.

“He and I have developed a relationship over the years where we share marching show themes and various music selections that would emphasize those themes,” Nelson said. “I try to come up with themes that aren't already currently in his catalog and music selections that will make our band most successful. This allows Luke and I to both benefit from each other while using the marching show as a tool to help our students grow. The music this year really exhibited our band's strengths in every section and allowed our students to achieve their best.”

The music invites audiences into a fantastical dream world where the boundaries between sweet dreams and haunting nightmares blur. Through “Gymnopédie No.1” by Erik Satie, “Mr. Sandman” by Pat Ballard, “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by the 1980s band the Eurythmics, the show explores the surreal landscapes of the subconscious, from the ethereal tranquility of dreams to the chills of nightmares.

“I think the way the band performances is what makes the biggest impact,” Nelson said. “Because no matter if the judges know the music or not, if the band performs well enough they won't forget.”

Throughout the show the music paints this picture of hope that one dream is powerful enough to wipe away all our fears, doubts, and nightmares. Nine color guards under leadership of Danielle Spooner supplied attractive and exciting visuals to the music. We present the story visually with our color guard. The sandman – color guard captain Riley Ball – turns the color guard into dreams from their original nightmare state throughout the entirety of the show.

For what might be decades now, the Cameron Yoe High School Band has always been somewhat of a rival to the Clifton band, which Nelson sees as healthy competition. Both the Clifton and Cameron bands have gone back and forth between first and second at the UIL Area D Competition for several years. In 2019, 2021 and 2022, the Cameron Band was Area Champions. In 2020 and 2023, the Clifton Band was Area Champions.

“I think a key element we have developed over the years is a positive sense of continuous improvement in ourselves,” Nelson said about the band’s level. “No matter the level of performance, we should be happy with contributing our best but not stay satisfied. This allow our students to work to unlock their full potential. We encourage our band students to work to add this element of continuous improvement outside of band too.”

For the fourth time since 2017 – reaching the finals every time, the “Every Step, Eagle Pride” Valley Mills went to San Antonio state competition Oct. 31 as the Region 8, Area D, Division 2A champions with their music program Aurora by Luke McMillan.

“This band has worked countless hours to perfect their performance, day in and day out,” the band’s Facebook page mentioned after winning the area competition. “They have persevered through heat and cold alike that would normally send others running inside. We are very proud of our band and the community that supports this Champion Band. They pushed like never before, and have earned their title as Area D Champions!”

A celebration of the breathtaking and mesmerizing spectacle that nature paints in the Northern skies – the Aurora Borealis – the production captures the beauty of these natural phenomena. The show includes “Aurora” original music by McMillan, “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins and “Rewrite the Stars” from “The Greatest Showman” Broadway musical.

“Thank you to our amazing band boosters and supporters for helping us on this trip,” the band’s Facebook page said. “The bus drivers for letting us go back and sleep in between Prelims and Finals! Our amazing administration for their constant support and being with us for this journey. And most of all… thank you students. Band students. You have made the directors time so enjoyable this season. We love you all! You all rewrote the stars in the most memorable way. Congratulations.”

For the purpose of UIL Music Competitions and Evaluations, the state is divided into 33 geographical regions. Region alignment is determined based on a combination of factors that includes geography, population density, number of schools, and participation. Each region offers competitions and evaluations in band, choir and orchestra.

To put the Bosque bands’ excellence into perspective, the Bosque schools are in Region 8 with 93 schools total. Area D, one of five areas in the state, holds nine regions – 5, 8, 18, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32. Other music events coming up in which the Bosque bands are expected to do well include concert and sight reading in January, and the small ensemble contest in May.

Photos by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS, WENDY OROZCO and courtesy of CASEY SADLER