So, we are getting ready for 2025. At the moment, I can confirm 30 shows that I will be writing drill for, which I am very excited about. There are another 5 schools that I am awaiting an answer from for confirmation. These are subject to change as directors do change schools and so this…
Here is a just for fun video using three unrelated songs from the Arrangers Publishing catalog entitled Jubilation. It features Rocky Point Holiday by Ron Nelson arranged by Jay Dawson, Land of Make Believe (the old version) by Chuck Mangione arranged by Larry Kerchner and Joy by Joseph Curiale arranged by Tom Wallace. The band…
UIL Area Contest Results – 3A Tidehaven High School – Area D 27th Place Falfurrias High School – Area E 27th Place Tolar High School – Area B 18th Place Brazos High School – Area D 21st Place Luling High School – Area E 18th Place Orangefield High School – Area C 11th Place (Finalist)…
Some more results from UIL and beyond. First, my first band from Arizona, Morenci High School performed at their first contest last Saturday, the Eastern Arizona College Band Day and performed to an excellent rating. Good stuff for their first time out. Two more shows happened today and both were 1st divisions. From Arkansas: Piggott…
It was a good day as far as the drill writing side of things. I am going to include the 2 out of state bands on this listing that received 1st divisions or that equivalent that went last week. They are in the order they received them: South Walton High School, Santa Rosa Beach, FL…
Here is Fred’s UIL Schedule for 2024 in chronological order (all are tentative at the moment): Tom Bean 10-16 2:45pm Region 25 Celina Big Spring 10-16 7:45pm Region 6 Abilene Crosbyton 10-19 9:05am Region 16 Lubbock Palacios 10-19 9:45am Region 13 El Campo Jayton 10-19 9:50am Region 16 Lubbock Boling 10-19 10:15am Region 13 El…
So, in my somewhat nerdy self who loves statistics, here are the populations to the cities of the schools that I wrote drill to. This has nothing to do with the sizes of the bands or how good they are, just the populations of the cities. Houston, TX 2,314,157 San Antonio, TX 1,434,625 Jacksonville, FL…
For those that are interested in learning about Pyware, I recommend this retreat. I have done it twice. You will get great information not just about Pyware but drill writing in general with the great Craig Harms and Brantley Douglass. It is also a great place to meet and collaborate with others in the field…
So, there is one more band to go but this is worth celebrating (though admittily, I had very little to do with this). Nine of the bands that I wrote for received the esteemed UIL Sweepstakes trophy. To earn this award, the marching band needs to make a first division or superior rating and the…
As of February 25, these are the shows that I will be doing for 2024 with reasonable assurances: Luling High School, Luling, TX – 1st Time Bellaire High School, Houston, TX – 5th Time Mathis High School, Mathis, TX – 2nd Time Hastings High School, Alief, TX – 2nd Time Columbia High School, West Columbia,…