Education
BY CHLOE YOUNG
Leander ISD high school bands celebrated historic wins at the 2024 UIL State Marching Band Championships at the Alamodome in San Antonio. This was the rst time all six LISD high schools quali ed for the state competitions, Superintendent Bruce Gearing said at a Nov. 7 board of trustees meeting. For the sixth year, the Cedar Park High School band was named the rst place state champion of the 5A high school competition Nov. 4-5. At the 6A high school contest Nov. 11-12, the Vandegrift High School band walked away as the silver medalist in second place. The Cedar Park High School band placed fth, and the Leander High School band placed 12th overall at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis on Nov. 14-16. “The feeling was unlike any other,” LHS percussionist Justin Kelly said about placing third at the state contest. “Because after all the struggles and after all of the pain and sweat that we went through to get there ... we were all just extremely proud of ourselves.” Leander ISD bands celebrate success
State marching band results 5A high school contest
6A high school contest Vandegrift High School band- second place Vista Ridge High School band - fourth place
Cedar Park High School band - rst place Rouse High School band - second place Leander High School band - third place Glenn High School band - 16th place
For the sixth consecutive year, the Cedar Park High School band was named state champion of the 5A UIL State Marching Band Championship. COURTESY LEANDER ISD
The bottom line
What they’re saying
The approach
When re ecting upon the recent success, Kelly said he and his bandmates are fueled by a desire to live up to the decades-long legacy of the LHS band. Now, the band wants to leave a legacy of their own for students to come, he said. “Thinking about the legacy that we were going to leave behind really pushed us and really helped motivate us to want to be the best that we possibly could be,” Kelly said. He credited the LHS band’s accomplishments to his band directors who he said are dedicated and understanding while also pushing students to succeed. Leander ISD denied Community Impact’s request for interviews for this article.
Gearing said he believes the success of LISD’s bands was an outcome of the district’s culture of continuous improvement and strategic plan goals. Students in LISD band programs attend band class for 90 minutes each school day, arrive at campus at 7 a.m. to attend master classes, assess their progress on performance goals, and are encouraged to take private lessons outside of school, he said. To prepare for the season, Kelly said he and his LHS bandmates practice for several hours Mon- day through Friday from June through August, during which the heat can push students to their limit, he said. During the school year, the band rehearses after the instructional day four days a week, he said. Being a part of the LHS band has provided Kelly with community as well as a sense of discipline, he said. “The payo comes later,” Kelly said about being in band. “If you’re willing to wait for that payo , and you’re willing to work for that payo , then it makes it even better.”
“For our students to be able to do something like that, especially
to that magnitude ... it literally takes every single one of their teachers to help them get there.” FRANCESCA ROMANS, PLACE 6 BOARD MEMBER
“It’s di erent here, and that’s just a testament to so many people
putting in their blood, sweat and tears into
this program.” CHRISTINE MAUER, FORMER PLACE 3 BOARD MEMBER
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