AHS band prepares for trip, contest

The Ragin’ Red Band is preparing for concert and sight reading competition set for March 26 at Cooper High School in Abilene, hoping to earn a third straight Sweepstakes Award with Division I ratings in both contests.

The band earned a Division I at the marching contest last fall, and if they earn two more Division I ratingsinconcertandsight reading, the group will add another Sweepstakes Awardtoitsachievements.

The band won its first sweepstakes in 40 years in 2022, which was only the third time in school history. The first sweepstakes was in 1962, followed by the second in 1982.

The group, which includes students in grades eightthrough12,areworking on three concert selections: Marche Diabolique by Balmades, Dance from Simple Gifts by Ticheli, and Brave Spirit by Standridge. 

Band Trip

The band will travel to Branson, Missouri on Thursday for the biennial band trip.

Atotal of 37 members of the band are making the trip, performing at the Titanic MuseuminBranson, attending a musical show featuring the Haygoods, and spending a day at Silver Dollar City.

The band booster club raised funding for the trip, supplementing the expense of the trip for students that volunteered a minimum of 10 hours of community service.

The group will return toAlbany on Sunday evening, March 10.