Mustang marching band brings home superior rating

ROUND ROCK — The Marble Falls High School marching band has received a coveted Division I superior rating from judges at the Central Texas Marching Showcase.

The event was held Oct. 4 in the Round Rock Independent School District Stadium. 

The band’s performance at the contest was impressive, Head Band Director Brad Behrens said.

“We had a good show,” Behrens said. “We had really good energy and we were excited to be there. Looking at the overall picture, we did a good job.”

The band was judged on musicianship, marching execution, drill integrity and general effect of look and sound. 

The band’s show consisted of three “jazz fusion” selections including “Karn Evil,” “Handbags” and “Gladrags” featuring saxophone soloist Austin Hill and trumpet soloist Jaron Browning, and “The Contender” also featuring another solo by Browning. 

Behrens described the marching show as filled with intensity. 

“The show is high-energy,” Behrens said. “It takes a lot of concentration to execute.”

The band started working on the show in August, and  put in many hours of practice, Behrens said.

“We’ve worked seven hours a week, for the past six weeks, plus eight hours during summer band,” Behrens said. “So we’ve spent at least 50 hours working on this show.”

However, Behrens said there are still a few things to work on.

“We marched pretty well, we just have a few individual discrepancies to iron out,” Behrens said. “We’re going to continue the process of improving. We’re going to get picky about the marching, the playing and the execution of the whole show.”

This Saturday, the band will march in the Westlake Marching Contest in preparation for the Region 26 University Interscholastic League Marching Contest on Oct. 18. 

Behrens said the Mustang band hasn’t been to the Westlake contest in several years, but he feels it should be a good challenge for the young musicians.

“It’s a tough contest and I’m looking forward to it.”