AHS band earns Division I
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Albany Ragin’ Red Band earned a Division I rating from judges at the Region 6 UIL Marching Contest held Monday at Wylie High School.
The band was one of two 2A groups in the East Zone to advance to the Area Marching Contest set for Saturday, Oct. 30 in Amarillo.
The band was awarded Division I ratings by two of the three judges, and a Division II by the third.
“The kids are ecstatic,” band director William Vaughan said. “That was our goal for this year, and they worked really hard to get to this point.”
Albany and Colorado City both received Divsion I ratings to advance, while Hawley and Roscoe both were given Division II ratings.
Vaughan said a total of 21 Class 2A bands earned I’s to make it to the next step of competition, with only four schools able to qualify for the State Marching Contest in San Antonio on Nov. 9.
“We had a great run-through Friday night at halftime,” Vaughan said. “We have found that sweet spot where even if we make a mistake, it is minor and corrected quickly.”
While he feels that the judging in the East Zone was the toughest of the three zone contests in the region, Albany will have to step it up a notch to advance to state.
“Everyone at area is good, so we will have to march our best show yet to make the finals,” he said. “But I think we can do it if we work hard and have a really good run.”
The top 10 bands from the preliminaries compete a second time in the finals.
“We had good comments from the judges,” he said. “One of the judges raved about how the kids looked and sounded.”
Vaughan said he told the members to not overcompensate when they took the field on Monday.
“We marched first, and the kids were so nervous,” he said. “It is hard to be the first group, especially when you are as young as we are.”
The band earned a Division II last year under Vaughan’s first year as director. He is assisted by his wife, Danna.
The group earned Division I ratings in both concert contest and sight reading last spring.
Vaughan said that he will have details finalized later this week for the Amarillo trip.
