PLANO -- A blue October sky and sweater weather were excellent complements to the spirited high school band performances Saturday at Clark Stadium as North Texas bands from 5A schools competed for a ticket to the University Interscholastic League state meet in San Antonio next week.
The five state-bound bands from the Plano meet are Flower Mound Marcus, Plano East, L.D. Bell, Hebron and Richland high schools, according to tweets from the band directors. Keller High, Keller Central and Fossil Ridge also moved to state after competing in Odessa.Twenty-five bands took part in the 5A area UIL competition in Plano, one of several area competitions around Texas on Saturday. In addition to Odessa, other 5A and 3A bands competed in Denton, Waxahachie and Lubbock."It's a little nerve-wracking," said Hannah Klein, 17, a senior vibraphonist from Grapevine High School. "The worst part is the waiting to go on."Arlington Sam Houston's Texan band earned the top regional rating, which qualifies for the area meet, for the first time in several years, a triumph for a rebuilding unit."We were nervous when we first walked in, but then when we started playing we just got into the show," said clarinetist Blas Negrete, 17.Once the pre-performance tension and the performance were over, it was time for the bands, their parents and their directors to kick back a little."Our kids had a very good run," reported Mansfield High School assistant director Kevin Feldser as his 250 Tiger players crossed the parking lot after lunch. "Just like with every other band here, every year it's a special group, and this band is no exception."The key, many directors said, is to help students enjoy where they are."As a band we did pretty well," Parker Farnell, 16, a French horn player with the Paschal High School band, said after their 1 p.m. performance. "This was one of our best performances. I'm just glad we got to come here."Representing the only Fort Worth school in the competition, Paschal's band members enjoyed one advantage: Their football game was Thursday night so they got in a good night's sleep before traveling to Plano on Saturday."We're going to Fuddrucker's and have a nice lunch and have some fun," Paschal director Bryan Wright said. "We'll come back, and if we don't make finals we'll just listen to the other bands and pick up some of the things we should be doing."Most bands played late at football games Friday, and members had to get up at 6 a.m. to start the long competition day."This morning I walked onto the field with my eyes closed," joked Tristan Lester, 17, a member of of Arlington Martin's drum line.The announcement of the 10 finalist bands inevitably led to disappointment for many. Only L.D. Bell, Haltom, Richland and Colleyville Heritage made the evening finals.Trinity band director Mario Casanova spoke quietly to his 160 student players before they boarded buses to leave."I told them that they did an amazing job," he said. "We came out 12th here, that close to the finals. Two years ago we were 23rd of 25 bands, so we moved up 12 places."Like many bands, Trinity will compete in other contests this year, including the Duncanville Marching Invitational next weekend.Haltom and Richland band members celebrated making the finals."I almost cried when I found out we made it," said Moriah Withem, 15, a freshman flute player from Haltom.For Bell, it was routine. The Hurst school is a perennial state champion contender, and students went home for a break after their early show, returning for the finals."I'm not jaded," said Bell mom Jennifer Martz, whose daughter Jordan is a bassoonist and a member of the color guard. "I love this. It's all new to me."Shirley Jinkins, 817-390-7657Twitter: @startelegramHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
