Marble Falls High School marching band advances to Region 26 competition
CEDAR PARK — A victory for the Marble Falls High School marching band during a contest Oct. 6 has the student musicians gearing up for another big competition in a week.
The Mustang Marching Band performed as one of the top 10 groups in the Vista Ridge High School Marching Festival at John Gupton Stadium. While they didn’t earn the festival title, band director Brad Behrens said the experience gives them a big boost as they prepare for the University Interscholastic League Region 26 Contest Oct. 20 at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Round Rock.
“At (Vista Ridge) we get constructive criticism from the judges which we can use to improve our performance as we get ready for UIL contest,” he said. “And contests are different than our Friday night (half-time) performances.”
During halftime routines in a football game, Behrens said the crowd is loud, but it’s just the opposite during contests.
“The crowd is quieter,” Behrens said. “So it’s important for the kids to experience that type of setting.”
When the Mustang Marching Band wrapped up its first set during the Oct. 6 contest, senior Carla De La Hoya was bewildered by her fellow musicians’ mood.
“We weren’t as excited as I expected us to be because I felt we had a great performance,” the band president said. “Once the results came out and we found out we were in the finals, the energy really picked up.”
Preparing for the UIL contest started last spring as band directors began selecting music and crafting routines. For most of the students, the work began in the 100-degree days of summer.
Now the band has another week to put polish up its routine “Visionary” before the UIL regional contest.
“We get one shot at it,” De La Hoya said. “So we’ll start feeling the pressure as the contest gets closer. But, we’ll be ready.”
The regional event will culminate the Mustang band’s state contest season this year. They will not advance no matter their score.
The UIL alternates years that school divisions can move up to the state contest with 4A schools such as Marble Falls sitting out this time.
“We’re still competing for pride,” Behrens said. “It’s still a big deal to us.”