THS, TMHS Marching Bands Continue Rich Tradition of Advancing to Area Competition
In Tomball ISD, fine arts have a consistent and strong reputation for greatness. Representing a variety of programs, fine arts students continue to elevate and achieve greatness year in and year out.
Each Fall, UIL Marching Band competitions have become a symbol of high-quality performance, and a tradition of excellence that is reflective of the hard work and dedication put forth by the students and staff every year.
Competition season is not quite like any other. For the Tomball High School Cougar Pride Band and the Tomball Memorial Roarin’ Blue Band, competition season is a culmination of their preparation and creativity combined with the skills they have perfected that makes competing at such a high level so rewarding.
Recently, Tomball ISD was well-represented by both bands at the Region 9 UIL Marching Band Contest as they each received unanimous first division ratings from the judges (the highest possible score) to advance to the Area Competition!
Tomball High School is under the direction of Shaka Hawkins, Patrick Lemanczyk, Tyler Broadhurst, Conner Adams and Tomball Memorial High School is led by Andy Easton, Dusty Brown, Roger Marquis, Chris King, Brittany Shepherd.
“We are so proud of both of our fantastic TISD marching bands for their stellar performances at Region UIL and advancement to Area,” said Tomball ISD Director of Fine Arts Paulette Tomlinson. “This advancement is a testament to the support for fine arts here in Tomball ISD, and the collective efforts of our students, music department staff, and families. This level of performance is truly a team effort, and we are extremely proud of our students and directors for their tireless work this season – they have represented Tomball ISD at the highest level! We are so excited to cheer them on at Area this Saturday!” |
They will both compete in Area UIL this Saturday, October 21, at Galena Park ISD. Tomball High School will perform at 11:45 AM and Tomball Memorial will perform at 1:30 PM.
Programs like THS and TMHS who receive first division ratings do so as a result of excellent music teaching and learning that begins in elementary school!
Understanding the Path to Success
In Tomball ISD, students learn music literacy beginning in kindergarten that they use throughout their school years. Intermediate band directors set students up on band instruments and ensure they have solid fundamental knowledge of their instrument beginning in 6th grade. From there, junior high band directors refine student playing ability and teach students how to properly play with others in an ensemble. High school directors take students to the next level by refining all of their prior skills and pushing them to make independent musical decisions. High school is also where the athletic portion of performance kicks in. Planning for a marching show starts in the school year prior. Directors start immediately planning for the upcoming year after the marching season concludes in the Fall.
“It takes EVERYONE involved in the music department district-wide to pull this off, so this advancement is truly a collective achievement for the Tomball ISD music programs,” said Tomlinson.
Performance Breakdown
Tomball High School’s Cougar Pride Band’s show is called “A Thousand Words” and revolves around photographs and what they mean to us. They feature photographs of landmarks in our very own Tomball, as well as pictures of students performing.
Tomball Memorial’s Roarin’ Blue Band’s show is called “Come on Down” and is a celebration of Bob Barker and the famous show The Price is Right. Their props include many of the games from the TV show and are full of humor.
Understanding the Process
In an effort to prepare for Area Competition, each marching band uses the feedback they received from the judges at Region to refine their performance and add extra touches to the show to be more competitive at the Area Competition.
At Region, there are three judges; at Area, there are five. The judges are assigned to specific aspects of the performance to evaluate and therefore take more of the production into account when calculating the final score.
Support Like No Other
As a unified community, representing fine arts and band in Tomball ISD, each band played an integral role in supporting one another during the Region Competition, cheering on and congratulating the other in a show of #TeamTomball pride.
In addition to supporting one another, the Tomball Spirit was also alive and well at the conclusion of the Patriotic Show as each marching band had the opportunity to rehearse on the field in front of fans, students, and the community. On top of the community members and students in the stands who stayed late to see these students perform, both varsity football teams, both cheer squads, and both drill teams also stayed in support of their talented classmates.
“The bands were extremely appreciative of the support they received from their classmates during their final public performances before UIL after the Patriotic Show,” Tomlinson said.
An energy for excellence is alive and well in Tomball ISD, and marching band competition season is always a time for celebration and a reflection of the hard work and talent we have here in our Destination District.
Source: Tomball ISD
