The Kennedale High School Marching Wildcat band once again scored straight 1?s at regional competition on Saturday at Springtown High School. This has become an annual thing with the kids in the band. {{more: continue …}}
Saturday?s competition featured bands from Glen Rose, Alvarado, Springtown, Castleberry, Lake Worth, Godley, Venus and Kennedale.
KHS Director of Bands Erol Oktay with another UIL trophy. This is his 16th year as KHS Director
However, the contest is not against the other bands but against a detailed prescribed set of standards covering four areas:
- Tone (Brass, Woodwind, Percussion Performance);
- Musicianship (Ensemble Performance);
- Marching (Execution);
- Drill/Integration of Marching Components.
Within those standards are the ratings that run from poor, below average, average, excellent to superior. A superior rating is a 1 and a poor is a 5. Each rating has a set of descriptors. For superior performance the descriptors include “high level,? “effectively,? “exceptional,? “convincing,? “throughout,? “superior,? “high degree,? “often achieved,? “highly developed,? “few minor flaws,? and “minimal lapses.? UIL
Marching Band Descriptors
In other words, the musical performance of the Marching Wildcats on Saturday was played on a highly developed level with minimal lapses and few minor flaws by students with an awareness of their individual role and their instrument?s role in the overall performance with music that was exceptionally played throughout the performance. This was matched by a marching presentation that was achieved consistently at a high level in terms of uniformity, step-work, linear form, timing, spacing, flow, detail, and technical presentation.
Kennedale not only has done that this year but has consistently earned Division I scores year after year. It is a point of pride. So much so that incoming freshmen are expected and expect themselves to perform the same way.
Case in point, this year?s version of the Wildcat Marching Band had 50 freshmen, which is believed to be the largest ever for the Kennedale program. And, since there is no sub-varsity team for band, everyone plays on varsity … yet, the band did not miss a beat.
bitter sweet moment ?
The seniors pictured have been to state twice and have earned 1?s at region all four years
This was the end of the marching competition season for UIL in Class 2A, 4A and 6A. (Bands in Class 1A, 3A and 5A will be continue on with area and state competition). For the seniors, it is a welcoming end to all the high pressure contest with long repetitive practices in preparation but it is also an end to the jokes, the pranks and being part of one of top marching bands in the state.all parts of the performance have to click …
The Colorguard routines have to be meticulously choreographed to blend flawlessly into the overall marching
program
the people behind the band …
Assistant/directors this year are Benjamin Brown, Josie Inman, Director Erol Oktay, Eleanor Macias and Chris
Koenig
These are some of the VIPs that help make things happen on time ? parents that are always there to assist
the band performances
