Band competes at marching contest

The Albany band received an overall rating of III at the East Zone Region 6 Marching Contest at Wylie Bulldog Stadium earlier this week.

The Ragin’ Red Band was the second one to compete on Monday, Oct. 22, taking the field at 3:00 p.m. The 25 members of the band performed Rise of the Phoenix, which was written for the band by Luke McMillian, according to AHS band director John Stockdale.

Bands from Class 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A schools were at the UIL sponsored contest.

Bands were given a rating by each of three independent judges: 1=superior; 2=excellent; 3=average; 4=fair; 5=poor.  The judges do not confer about their ratings.

All three judges gave the Albany band an “average” rating.

“We are just that young,” said Stockdale. “And with all the rain, we couldn’t practice marching and prepare like normal.”

The band plans to present the show tomorrow, Oct. 26, at halftime of the Albany-Cross Plains varsity football game.

“Weather permitting, we will do the contest show,” said the director.