Band to perform Monday
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Ragin’ Red Lion Band will host a Meet the Band performance on Monday, Aug. 21 in the High School Auditorium starting at 8:00 p.m.
All members of the community are invited to attend to hear some of the music the group has been working on for the contest show, as well as individual members of the band being introduced.
The band has been working almost daily during summer band practices since the last week of July.
“We decided to hold the performance in the auditorium due to the heat,” director William Vaughan said. “They will be playing the first half of the music for our contest show and then be introduced to the audience.”
The band has switched to mostly morning practices with the start of classes this week.
Morning rehearsals will start on the first day of class at 7:45 a.m., as well as each Monday through Wednesday during marching season. The starting time switches to 7:15 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays throughout the fall to practice for marching at the weekly football halftimes.
In addition, the usual Monday evening rehearsal each week is set for 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. each week, along with a Wednesday afternoon rehearsal from 3:45 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
The band is working on the music and marching drills for a show entitled “Our World,” which was written by Luke McMillan.
Vaughan said that 51 members have been coming to summer practices consistently, but he may pick up a few more on the first day of classes. He plans to march 50 in the show, with one or more alternates depending on the final number enrolled.
The band includes students in grades 8-12 this season, with the group putting together a show in hopes of earning a third consecutive UIL Sweepstakes Award.
The show will include movements from “New World Symphony” by Dvorak, “Mad World” by Gary Jules and “Russian Christmas Music” by Alfred Reed.
The band has marched shows scored by McMillan for several years, including the past two which earned Division I ratings on the way to Sweepstakes Awards.
“We are very happy to finally be getting more upperclassmen returning to the band,” Vaughan said. “They already know what to do, and it helps to have the older kids modeling for the younger ones.”
He added that summer rehearsals have gone very well, and the group seems anxious to get the season underway.
The first halftime performance will be on Friday, Aug. 25 at Lubbock Trinity in Lubbock.
