groupbandarticlepicThe Heart of Texas Regional Marching Contest was held on Saturday evening at Early Longhorn Stadium.  Eight area bands participated in the event to show off their musical and marching talents.

The event, also known as the Early Marching Festival, had the marching bands compete through the US Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) which works with nearly 1,000 high school music programs in 140 events in 15 states across the country.

Many of the bands not only played their band music, but featured themes, special costumes, and even a guitar solo and a sword fight thrown in for fun.  All of the bands put on great performances and had the crowd standing and cheering on many occasions.

Bands performed for about 15 minutes each and award trophies were handed out by Early Texas Mayor Bob Mangrum at the end of the program.

Area schools that participated in the event included Early High School, Coleman High School, Brownwood High School, Santa Anna High School, Goldthwaite High School, San Saba High School, Bangs High School and Howard Payne University.

The Winners and Places Were As Follows

Group 1A Class

  • First Place – Santa Anna  – Score 73.875

Group 2A Class

  • First Place – San Saba – Score 79.025
  • Second Place – Goldthwaite – Score 75.925

Group 2 Open Class

  • First Place – Bangs – Score 81.575

Group 3 Open Class

  • First Place – Brownwood – Score 83.150
  • Second Place – Coleman – Score 78.100

Below is information about each marching band and a photo gallery of the event for each school.

Early Mighty Longhorn Marching Band

Band Director – Mike Hall

Drum Majors – Ryan Blanton, Peyton Walker

Show Title – Heroes and Villains

Music Selections: Phantom of the Opera, Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator

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Coleman Big Blue Marching Band

Band Director – Jerry Everett

Drum Major – Kassidy Dean

Show Title – Music of Journey

Music Selections – Anyway You Want It, Wheel in the Sky, Don’t Stop Believin

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Brownwood Mighty Lions Marching Band

Band Directors – Richard Graham, Deborah Graham, Leslie Kriskchke

Drum Majors – Jonathan Cox, Chris Burnett

Show Title – “Q”

Music Selections – Queensland Quest, Quiet, Quick & Quit

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Santa Anna Mighty Mountaineer Marching Band

Band Director – Truitt Mitchell

Drum Major – Heather McMillan

Show Title – Movie Stars

Music Selections – Superman, Davy Crockett, The Phantom, James Bond, Batman, Men in Black

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Goldthwaite Golden Eagle Band

Band Director – Susan Reynolds

Drum Majors – Judi Parton, William Massey

Show Title – To Rock!

Music Selections – Movements 1,2 and 3

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San Saba Mighty Armadillos Marching Band

Band Director – Brian Sours

Drum Major – Taylor Lackey

Show Title – Batman

Music Selections – Batman Ballad, Batman Original Theme Song, Batman the Motion Picture

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Bangs Dragon Band

Band Directors – Tommy Perkins, Charla Bretzke

Drum Major – Kolton Eastep

Show Title – Mysteries of the Nile

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Howard Payne University Marching Band

Band Director – Cory Ash

Drum Majors – Olivia Berry, David Watson

Show Title – La Sinfonia Del Toro

Music Selections – Entry of the Bull, La Senorita, Malaguena

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