Vandegrift band, Vision Dance Co. and choir earn 3rd in Bands of America Super Regional on Saturday. Receiving the trophy are (L-R) drum major Carson Broe, drum major Rehaan Adhikary, Vision leader Tanis Sommer, drum major Zach MacDonald and drum major Will Bryan.
By JENNY ROSAS, Contributor
The Vandegrift band and Vision Dance Company along with members of the Viper choir performed their marching show “Symphony in Silence” for the final time Saturday at the Alamodome among the best bands in Texas and the nation.
That outstanding performance earned them 3rd place overall in the Bands of America Super Regional San Antonio competition, a competition considered one of the toughest in the nation of all high school marching band contests this year.
“This weekend’s result designates the Viper band as one of the top programs in the country,” said Mike Howard, VHS director of bands. “I am so proud of the students, parents and community.”
The band competed with 68 high school bands from Texas, and even a top band from Indiana, over a two-day preliminary round. A total of 14 bands advanced to the finals for Saturday evening performances. Vandegrift earned second place in their division (4A, the largest division of BOA) and overall. In finals, Vandegrift earned 3rd overall.
Their day on Saturday began at 6:15 a.m. on the Vandegrift football field with one more home turf rehearsal before loading up and hitting the road to San Antonio and the Alamodome. All of this is after performing the show at Friday night’s halftime and in the stands at the Vandegrift vs. Hays football game away in Buda.
The preliminary performance time was 12:15 p.m. in San Antonio and final results were announced in late afternoon. The final performance was 10:25 p.m., and final results were announced and awarded with a full band retreat in the Alamodome about one hour later.
In front of a full Alamodome crowd, and a large Vandegrift fan base, the students performed at peak level.
What the Band of America live bloggers had to say over the course of the weekend: “The trombones on ‘Sound of Silence’ may be my favorite thing I have heard this weekend.” and “That is how you end a show, epic!”
The Vandegrift High School band performs during halftime at the high school football game between the Leander Lions and the Vandegrift Vipers at Bible Stadium in Leander, Texas, on October 13, 2017.
