School also wins Houston-area marching band festival
While most students were still enjoying their summer, the students of The Austin High School Bulldog Marching Band and Angels were back at school getting ready for football season. For these students, school started on August 3. The band and Angels play during football games, including a halftime show, and also travel to competitions throughout the football season.

The marching band and Angels formations are led this year by drum majors Mauricio Mondragon and Willy Xu. This year the Austin High School show is entitled “Home of the Brave.” The show’s music is the main theme from “The Pacific” by Hans Zimmer; “Symphony No. 2” by Samuel Barber; “Amber Waves” by Morton Gould; and “Symphony for Organ and Orchestra” by Aaron Copland.

The concept for the show was created by Wes Cartwright, the program coordinator for the AHS band. The initial idea for the show came from quotes from “The Fifth Book of Peace” by Maxine Hong Kingston. One example is, “A rite of passage that honors the fallen, combining grit and beauty of painful tales constantly moving from the dark side into the light, to the beauty of life.”

For the first time in recent memory, the marching band has props on the field. The props transform the football field into a playground of history, passion, and pride —illuminated by red, white and blue — that comes to life in this epic journey of devastation and renewal. Austin High School Director of Bands Bob Chreste said, “The band is looking forward to honoring those who have served in the military and remembering the sacrifices that so many have made for our great country.”

Credit for the show also goes to show designers Wes Cartwright, Leon May and Andrew Markworth, and choreographers Lilian Mason, the Director of the Austin Angels, and Ashlee Williamson, the Assistant Director.

At the annual marching band festival held Sept. 26 and hosted by Friendswood High School at Henry Winston Statium, Austin High School took an overall first-place finish, and also won Outstanding General Effect and Outstanding Visual. As in most marching contests, students were judged in music performance, music effect, visual performance, visual effect, auxiliary and percussion. The event attracted 18 Houston area high school marching bands, also inclduing FBISD’s Ridge Point High.

A longtime Angel parent said, “The tribute to all of the brave men and women who have served or are currently serving our great nation through selfless service in the United States military was beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes.”

The band and Angels also took fourth place overall among 31 performing bands in the Bands of America Conroe Regional Championship held in The Woodlands Oct. 3. To see “Home of the Brave” in action, check the FBISD schedule for Austin High’s football games. Or catch the band and Angels at the USSBA Conroe Marching Contest on Oct. 31. For more information or to learn how to support the AHS band, go to sfaband.org.