Emotions were high on Saturday for the marching band members from Aubrey, Pilot Point and Tioga as they competed in the region marching competition in Denton.
Both Aubrey and Pilot Point earned straight 1’s, punching a ticket to the next round of competition, with Tioga earning straight 2’s and their marching season coming to a close.
Aubrey Director of Bands Jason Noyes said he was excited to see the work the kids have put in so far rewarded, but there is more work to do.
"This is one step in our contest season," Noyes said. "What a lot of people don't see is the behind the scenes, everything that goes in."
The process begins before the previous school year ends, Noyes said.
"Having everything start to come all together in the end, it's really amazing, just the process," he said. "It's amazing to be where I am and to see that from my vantage point, to see everything start to come together—all of the work ethic and all of the hours, and it just comes together for that eight-minute show."
The Aubrey band will retake the field on Oct. 31 for their area contest.
"We're not done," Noyes said. "... There's going to be a lot of different elements, and we've got to change some stuff and add some more choreography and shape it musically. ... In two weeks, hopefully we're there."
The Aubrey drum majors—senior Margaret Quade, senior Parker Roach and junior Kennedy DeLeon—were thrilled with the progress they have made so far, but they also have an eye on the next round.
Quade said earning straight 1's "shows that we're on track of where we want to be going forward and that all the work we're putting in is starting to pay off."
She also complimented the largest freshman class for Aubrey so far on their work in the show, which Roach echoed.
One of those freshmen is Roach's younger brother.
"It's really nice because this is my one year that I'm going to be able to march with him, and it's really fun seeing him out on the field," she said.
DeLeon spoke of the growth they've seen.
"We've come a really long way, even just from maybe two weeks ago, ... and I just really love to see the people learning to focus ... and create this big picture," she said.
The performance of one of the Aubrey soloists, senior Gavin Solomon, is a highlight from the show for many of the other the band members and community members.
His highlight this year is getting to be a part of the group.
"All the people in band this year—this has been my favorite year so far," he said.
He said he hopes the band can channel the pressure to keep doing well.
Dan Balkema, the director of bands for Pilot Point, was elated for his students as well.
"We started back at the end of July, and all these kids have done this season is just pushed and pushed and pushed," he said. "It's incredible to watch the growth, the camaraderie, the hard work, the dedication just come to life, and it's incredible for these kids."
With the announcement, Balkema and his band’s focus shifted back to preparing for their upcoming Saturday performance.
"We focus on one level at a time, and they have pushed it, they really have," he said.
He spoke, too, with admiration for the way the students come together on the field despite whatever challenges they might be facing outside of marching band.
" All band is, is just a place for them to belong," Balkema said. "It's just their second family, and when life hits, they nine times out of 10 just show up to their second family and just forget about what's going on in their own personal world just to celebrate each other. ... No matter what. They just keep pushing, striving to do the best."
With a mixture of new and seasoned marchers, there are still things to tweak, Balkema said.
"Detail is really what it's about now," he said.
The students are just as excited to move on to the next round.
"It just means the world to see that all the hard work that we put in, all the hot days, all the long nights, have just put us to getting straight 1's at Region," senior Katy Delgado said.
Senior and drum major Giancarlo Aguirre, too, is ready to keep going in the hopes of returning to the state competition.
" Our directors are great," he said. "They work so hard every day to give us the resources that we need for success."
Pilot Point High School Principal Marzia Infante loved seeing the performance.
"Just the level of endurance and then the level of athleticism that they also have to exhibit with their lunges and everything they have to do, that is phenomenal," she said. "Loved it."
Tioga was the first band to perform, and the band did not advance past the first round, despite the efforts of Dustin Nguyen, the middle school and high school band director, and his students.
