Band To Compete in State Marching Contest

Band+members+Landon+Wauson%2C+Vangie+Griffin%2C+Jazmine+Page%2C+Hayden+Pringle%2C+Kira+Amador+and+Benjamin+Newlon+play+during+a+half-time+performance.

Meredith Muno

Band members Landon Wauson, Vangie Griffin, Jazmine Page, Hayden Pringle, Kira Amador and Benjamin Newlon play during a half-time performance.

The Randall band is headed to state.

The band qualified for the Texas State Marching Contest this past Saturday at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa. This is only the third time in school history that the band has qualified for this contest, with the last two times being in 1999 and 2003. On Sunday, the band will depart Randall bound for San Antonio where they will compete at the Alamodome the following day. The state marching contest will be a two part contest between 33 bands, with prelims being on Nov. 1 and finals on Nov. 2. The Randall band’s prelim performance is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. on Nov. 1 and they will not find out if they are among the 12 bands to advance to finals until that evening.

The band students have worked countless hours in preparation for this moment.

— Band Director Ginger Denney

High school bands compete in the marching contest every other year. Two years ago, the Randall band missed earning a state spot by two points.

“Two years ago, we really wanted it to work and when it didn’t it gave us a jump of motivation,” senior drum major Noah Taylor said. “We weren’t expecting to make finals and when we did, we realized that we could do this, we just needed to work for it.”

Coming into this year, Taylor said that band felt different because band members knew what they were capable of. In hopes of making it to state, the band began preparing for contest earlier in the summer, and added a multi-day rehearsal called Brass Camp.

“(During Brass Camp), we spent three days learning the show music which gave us a head start,” Taylor said. “This gave us the opportunity to focus more on marching.”

Going into next week’s competition, Band Director Ginger Denney said she is confident that her band is prepared to compete at the state level.

“The band students have worked countless hours in preparation for this moment,” Denney said. “Previous years have laid the foundation for what we are able to achieve and accomplish today. To say I’m proud is an understatement. These students have blown me away with their talent, heart, and dedication.”