Burnet’s Esprit de Corps returns to state marching band contest

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

BURNET — When Burnet High School band director Jason Jones and his student leaders gathered in late July to lay out the expectations for the upcoming marching season, one goal they stated almost immediately was to “make it to state.”

All high school bands probably hope for that, but it’s not just wishful thinking for the BHS band and the Highlandettes, which make up the Esprit de Corps. The Esprit de Corps regularly advances to the University Interscholastic League state marching band competition. The last time bands in Burnet’s classification were eligible to advance to state was 2012, and the Esprit de Corps placed third.

But 2014 marked a new year with new band leadership, particularly Jones, who took over the reins this summer.

“I’ve been very thankful and blessed because the kids have taken in the ideas I’ve brought and ran with it,” Jones said.

In fact, after nailing a great performance Oct. 25 at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park during the UIL Area D Marching Contest, the Esprit de Corps is running all the way to the state contest Nov. 3 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Well, actually they’re taking a charter bus, but they’re headed to state all the same.

“It feels a little surreal right now,” Jones said Oct. 29. “We’ve kept with our normal routine, but when you think that we’re one of the top 22 4A bands in the state, it definitely puts things in perspective.”

The work toward San Antonio began in late July with leadership training followed by the band and Highlandettes putting everything together. While he’s not at all shy about sharing his expectations for the band, Jones said band members themselves were their toughest critiques. He recalled that, after Friday night game performances, the students would analyze their routine in the stands and note where they could make improvements.

“And they were exactly where they needed to be at that point in the year, but they wanted to be better. They knew they would be better,” Jones said. “That’s how they approached every performance and practice. I really appreciated that they looked at each performance as ‘it’s gotta be perfect.’ It motivated them to work harder.”

After performances, and especially after competitions, band members and directors would watch the film and critique it, noting little things they could all be doing better. Each time, Jones said, students challenged themselves to get better.

“For the juniors and seniors, they remembered being (at state) in 2012, and they wanted to get back,” he said.

Even with hard work, dedication and tradition, a return to state-level competition isn’t easy. The UIL doesn’t hold state marching competitions every year for every division, but alternates each year. So this year, 6A (formerly 5A) and 4A (formerly 3A) divisions can advance to state, while the other divisions must wait until 2015. So right away, every 4A marching band and dance team knows this is the year or they’ll have to wait another two years.

And unlike football games and many other competitions, there’s no outscoring or outrunning the opponent. Bands put their best show on and then it’s up to a panel of judges to rank them. All this combined with the chance of any student having a bad day or a misstep makes advancing to state that much more impressive.

“We’ve faced some off-field challenges this year as well with me being new and then losing Elijah, the kids had some adversity and challenges,” Jones said. On Aug. 19, Burnet High School student and band member Elijah Benson, 17, died after another man allegedly shot him. The suspect remains in the Burnet County Jail facing capital murder charges.

During one of their performances, the band released balloons in Benson’s honor.

Through every challenge they faced, the Esprit de Corps responded with strength and resilience with the idea of always improving and getting better.

“This trip to state is the culmination of three months of hard work,” Jones said. “Am I surprised? No, not at all. These kids just knew what they wanted and worked every day for it.”

The Esprit de Corps leaves the high school, 1000 The Green Mile in Burnet, at 5:15 a.m. Nov. 3. People are invited to come out and see them off as the group travels to the Alamodome, 100 Montana St. in San Antonio. The Esprit de Corps performs at 9:15 a.m. in the preliminary round. Then, they’ll wait until 4 p.m. to find out if they’re among the top 10 that advance to the finals. Advance or not, Jones said the trip to state is a reward for all the dedication and effort the students poured into the band and dance squad this year.

“If we advance, great, but if we don’t, we’ll watch all those bands who did and learn from them,” Jones added.

daniel@thepicayune.com

UIL state marching contest tickets and parking information

• Preliminary round begins at 9 a.m. with the Esprit de Corps scheduled for 9:15 a.m.; top 10 will be announced at 4 p.m.; finals start at 6:30 p.m.
• Tickets for single event (preliminaries or finals) are $20 for adults and $15 for students grades 7-12
• Full-day tickets (includes preliminaries and finals) are $32 for adults and $26 for students grades 7-12
• Adult tickets can be purchased in advance through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com) or through the Alamodome ticket office at (800) 884-3663 or on the day of the event. Student tickets will only be sold on the day of the event at the Alamodome.
• Parking at the Alamodome is $20 per vehicle Nov. 3. If you leave and come back, you’ll have to pay another $20. Parking passes can be purchased in Lot C and with cash only.

Go to www.uiltexas.org for more information on tickets and parking.