Go BAND!
and!
For the second consecutive year, the Ragin’ Red Band earned Division I ratings from all three judges at the Region 6 UIL Marching Contest earlier this week, advancing to the 2A Area Marching Contest in Amarillo on Saturday.
Albany was one of 26 bands that performed at regional contest Monday at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene, receiving a top rating from each of the judges to move on to the next level.
“Our goal since the beginning of the season in August was to earn three Division I’s - to have a clean sheet,” director William Vaughan said. “The judges loved the music, saying it was very well suited for our group, and they provided good comments to help us move forward.”
Albany will take the field at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo, marching 22 out of the 26 bands in Class 2A that advanced by earning an overall Division I rating.
The top 10 bands will move to the finals at 7:00 p.m., with five advancing to the State Marching Contest on Oct. 31 in San Antonio.
“The kids played a great show,” band director William Vaughan said. “If we can play that well again and tighten up a few areas in our marching, we will do well.”
This is the third consecutive year thatAlbany has advanced to the area contest, placing 22nd in 2021 and 15th last year.
See Band, pg. 6A “Our goal is to finish higher than the last two years,” Vaughan said. “It would be great to make the finals. There are schools that have a decades-long history of making finals in the West Texas area, so the competition is tough, but it is our goal to break into that club.”
The band will travel on Saturday morning by charter bus, returning late that night to Albany.”
The band won its first Sweepstakes Award in 40 years last spring with Division I ratings in both concert and sightreading to add to the marching rating from last fall.
“We met our goal of straight ones and qualifying for area, so it is now up tothemhowtheycompete,” Vaughan said. “The kids have developed to a point now that they know how to execute well at contest. They are very professional and really care about their individual performances.”
Theband’scontestshow is entitled “Our World,” with music arranged by Luke McMillan and marching drill by Rodney Gurley.
ThisisVaughan’sfourth season to direct the Ragin’ Red Band. His wife, Danna, serves as the assistant director.
