Band Earns Division One Ranking at UIL Region 26 Marching Competition

Hannah McDonough, Horizon Assistant Editor| October 23, 2021

  • Band members and color guard perform in front of the ‘Human’ sign. The theme for this year’s marching season was ‘Human Again’, as displayed by signs towards the end of the performance.

    Nashitha Azeez
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  • Color guard performs to the side of everyone playing instruments. In this part of the performance, the color guard is supposed to look angry.

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  • Synchronized, the tubas perform together. The section was featured in a solo during their show, ‘Human Again.’ “Low brass doesn’t typically get a feature in a marching show, especially tubas, so that’s always really exciting,” Sophia Siegell ’23 said.

    Nashitha Azeez
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  • Standing on top of giant books, Laura Pinter ‘22 waves a flag. A few of the color guard members did moves atop the books.

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  • Neel Kotichintala ’25, Pierce Williams ‘22, and Caroline Zhuang ‘23 play the marimba in the front. The percussion were in the front while everyone moved around behind them.“[Playing percussion] is really interesting because you kind of get a perspective that the winds don’t,” Williams said. “As percussionists, you’re much more concerned with the rhythm of the show, and you’re always trying to keep tempo. The winds kind of rely on you to keep the tempo while they do whatever else they do.”

    Nashitha Azeez
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On Tuesday, Oct. 19, the Westwood Warrior Marching Band performed at the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Region Marching Contest at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex. 

“Our Human Again show is really strong this year,” baritone player Rebecca Clements ‘25 said. “I think it was put together well and I’m pretty confident with the performance we put on.” 

The 26 bands that competed were rated on a scale of one to five, one being the best, by various judges. The Westwood Warrior Marching Band received ratings of all ones, putting them in division one at the competition. They will go on to compete at the Area UIL competition in two weeks. 

“I’m super proud of the band for getting first division again and I’m really excited to go to area and hopefully all the way to state,” Associate Director of Bands Ms. Brittany Dacy said. 

This year’s show, Human Again, is based on the plot of Beauty and the Beast. It opens with a feature on the character Belle, then goes into a lively and exciting Be Our Guest dinner scene, an angry Kill the Beast scene, and finally a love scene between Belle and the Beast. 

“Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite Disney movies, so it’s really cool how we can put that into a band show,” saxophone player Aanchal Save ‘24 said.

After last year’s break due to COVID 19, this is the first UIL competition the band has been a part of in two years. 

“[Returning to a normal marching season] feels amazing,” Shrishti Viswanathan ‘23 said. “I missed it so much. I know people think that band is really hard, and it is, but it’s also really fun spending time with friends and everything.”