AHS band to compete at contest

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany band received a rating of two at the Seymour Marching Band Festival in Seymour last Saturday, Oct. 12, and their next contest takes place in just a few days.

The University Interscholastic League East Zone marching band contest will be held at Wylie High School Stadium in Abilene on Monday, Oct. 21, with Albany set to perform at 2:30 p.m.

“We will do the same show for the UIL contest that we did in Seymour,” said Albany High School band director Richard Murrow. “The show is titled The 80s Rocked and features three movements of music that were inspired by the pop music of the 80s.”

The 80s Rocked was written by Luke McMillan, and Murrow wrote the marching drill.

“I was happy with the performance,” said the AHS band director. “It was our first performance with the music completely memorized, and the band did well even though eight of our students were not able to attend.”

The Ragin’ Red Band has a total of 26 members this year, ranging from eighth graders through seniors in high school, but only 18 were able to participate in the contest last Saturday.

Events like the one in Seymour allow the band to practice for the upcoming UIL competition.

Bands do not compete directly with each other, but instead are given a rating from one to five based upon a standard of excellence, with one being the top ranking and five the bottom.

Two is considered “excellent.”