Band to compete at UIL March 28
By Donnie A. Lucas
Albany High School band members will attempt to earn a second straight Sweepstakes Award next Tuesday, March 28 at the concert and sight reading contest in Abilene.
The band will take the stage at 10:00 a.m. at Cooper High School to present the concert selections, followed at 10:30 p.m. with the sight reading contest.
“We were a little rough getting back after spring break on Monday, but the kids did well Tuesday,” band director William Vaughan said. “We have had a lot of kids gone because of other activities this week, but that is just part of it.”
Vaughan said that he feels the band will be ready for contest on Tuesday.
“We have been trimming and tweaking to present the music in the best way possible for us,” he said.
The band earned a Division I at the marching contest last fall, and if they earn two more Division I ratings in concert and sight reading, the group will add another Sweepstakes Award.
Last year was the first time in 40 years that the band had earned a sweepstakes and only the third time in school history.
The first was in 1962, followed by the second in 1982.
This is Vaughan’s third year at the helm of the band program. The band earned a pair of Division I ratings during both of the last two years in concert and sight reading.
“The kids are working hard in rehearsals,” director William Vaughan said. “If we stay on track, they have a very good chance of repeating with another sweepstakes.”
The group, which includes students in grades eight through 12, are working on three concert selections: The Red Cape, Hypnotic Fire Flies, and Heroes Triumphant.
Vaughan said that the group will travel to San Antonio on March 31 through April 2 for the spring band trip.
They will perform their concert selections at The American Classic Bluebonnet Festival, along with visiting the Alamo, Fiesta Texas, and Sea World.
