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SAN ANTONIO — The McDade High School marching band competed at the state level for the first time in program history last week, earning sixth place.
The band advanced to the University Interscholastic League State Marching Band Competition as a 1A band, after their success in October’s district conference.
Under the leadership of band director James Baker, the student musicians successfully performed their way through a preliminary round of competition at San Antonio’s Alamodome, where the remaining seven out of 15 bands competed in front of a new set of judges.
After the final note was played and the last drum rang out, the judges placed McDade’s musicians as the sixth best 1A band in the state.
This marks the first time the small band has ever reached such heights, a historic run making the community proud, according to those involved.
Baker credits their success to the dedication of the students, who set up additional sectionals and coordinated selfrun practices when they learned of the opportunity at hand. Student leadership has been a crucial part in the band’s development, delegating duties typically performed by staff members at larger schools.
They performed under the field direction of drum majors Sebastian Velazquez, a senior, and junior Areli Velazquez, while color guard captains Sheila Lugo and Shyanne Alexander, both juniors, lead instructor McKezie Pettit’s choreography.
From 7 a.m. rehearsals to acquiring props from other school districts, the Bulldog band went far beyond what was asked of or expected from them.
A uniquely young program, incorporating eighth graders and a significant lineup of freshmen, the band is in a position to further improve on their success and reach even greater heights in the years to come.
