La Grange Band Earns Top Honors at 51st Annual Blinn Buccaneer Marching Festival

Area high school bands took the field Saturday for the 51st annual Blinn College Buccaneer Marching Festival, gaining valuable performance experience and feedback as they prepare for University Interscholastic League marching competition.

Ten Class A through 4A bands competed for trophies at the annual festival held at Cub Stadium in Brenham. The Brenham High School Band gave an exhibition as an unjudged Class 5A entry.

“We had a lot of great performances,” said Dr. Sarah Burke, Blinn Band Director. “Everybody gets judges’ critiques, and we give out awards to the top bands. It is a great opportunity for these students to perform, receive feedback, and continue developing their shows as they prepare for UIL competition.”

The Blinn College Buccaneer Band also performed during the festival, giving visiting high school musicians an opportunity to see how they can continue participating in marching band at the collegiate level.

La Grange High School was named the festival’s top overall band after placing first in the Class 4A preliminary competition and earning the award for best overall percussioninthepreliminaries. Little River-Academy High School placed second overall, was named the outstanding Class 3A band, and received awards for best overall color guard and top soloist, clarinet player Eli Martinez.

For each band, the festival offered a chance to perform before experienced judges prior to University Interscholastic Leaguesanctioned marching competition.

Contest judges for the preliminary events were Eric Eakes, Jim Van Zandt, Chris Magonigal, Zach Edwards, and Deanna Keene. Finalist judges were Van Zandt, Magonigal, and Eaks.

The Buccaneer Band is part of Blinn’s acclaimed Music Department, which offers an Associate of Arts degree on the Brenham Campus and a wide range of performance opportunities. Students who enjoyed participating in band in high school can continue performing in college while pursuing virtually any field of study.

Music majors and nonmajors alike can participate in band, choir, chamber ensembles, individual performance, composition, and other musical experiences.

Blinn is currently recruiting students to join the Buccaneer Band for the 202728 academic year. Audition information and additional details are available at www. blinn.edu/music.