This year’s marching season for the Mission High School (MHS) Band may be one for the record books. After well over 100 hours of practice, the 152 member band and 12 color guard members not only earned Division 1 ratings at the annual Pigskin Jubilee marching contest, they advanced to the Area marching contest for the first time in over 11 years. On top of that, the Eagle Band made the finals at the Area marching contest. It is the first time in memory that the MHS band has advanced that far in the UIL marching contests.
Band director Dieg Sandoval said he is very proud to see how the students rose to the occasion. Sandoval said he chose to step up the music this year from a more intermediate level to a college level selection. “The best part of my job is you can visibly see, in a tangible way, their progress and growth,” Sandoval said.
The MHS band program was titled “Ring”. The concept covered anything that makes a ringing noise, or has a ding-dong type of element to it.
Pictured are members of the MHS Eagle Band as they were presented with a certificate of achievement for outstanding performances at the Area marching contest. From left to right are: Michelle Rios, Nayeli Lopez, Marlen Villarreal, Jesus Olivares, Amanda Saenz.
As the MHS band advanced to the Area marching contest, the Veterans Memorial High School (VMHS) Patriot Band was right beside them. This marks the first time since VMHS opened as a high school that both district band programs have advanced to the Area marching contest. This was the third time in VMHS’s history that the band had received a Division 1 rating at the Pigskin Jubilee and advanced to the Area level competition.
The touching VMHS band program was titled “American Hero”.
VMHS band director Trey Wilkins also expressed a great deal of pride in his student’s achievements during the marching season. Both band directors also expressed a great deal of pride in how the students from both bands have been supportive of each other’s programs. This was illustrated in many ways, including impromptu celebrations between the two bands after their performances at the Pigskin Jubilee and how the first band to perform at these competitions will stay to watch and support the other band for its performance.
# # #