AHS band to compete at area contest

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany High School band will travel to Amarillo on Saturday to compete in the area UIL Marching Contest with a chance to advance to the state contest.

Albany is one of 21 Class 2A bands vying for four spots advancing to the sate marching contest.

The local musicians will take the field at Dick Bevins Stadium at 4:00 p.m. for the preliminaries.

The top 10 bands will compete again starting at 6:45 p.m. to determine the state qualifiers.

“The kids are very excited,” second-year director William Vaughan said. “We are trying to keep them calm and focused.”

This is the first time in over 20 years that the band has advanced to the area round competition.

The group will depart Albany at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday via a chartered bus and will return that night.

The band worked with band clinician and retired director John Mize for a final clinic on Monday.

Albany earned two Division I ratings and one Division II from judges at the first contest on Monday, Dec. 18 at Wylie High School.

The director said that all the bands at the area level will be good, with all groups having earned a Division I to advance.

“We are going to have to march and play our best show to make the finals, but the kids can do it,” he said. “We are just trying to focus all their energy and excitement towards to the details we have stressed this season.”