LV Jr. High Band Competes at UIL Contest

On March 6^th the Jr. High Band and the 6^th grade band performed for their parents at the La Vernia High school gymnasium.  This concert was a practice run for our Jr. High band, led by Mrs. Wynn Sanchez, because on March 10^th they were going to compete at the annual Region 12  3A Concert and Sight-reading contest.  The kids played the concert pieces very well and the parents loved their performances.

On Monday, March 10^th 57 Jr. High band students left school to ride the buses to Steele High school in Cibolo.  This facility has an auditorium much like the one La Vernia will be building soon.  The students had to dress nicely in concert clothes and file on to the stage in total silence.  Judges were posted in the audience with pens in hand.  Each judge had a copy of the music the band would be playing and the judges followed along measure by measure as the band played, marking any mistakes the individual sections might make.  Our Jr. High band, led by Mrs. Wynn Sanchez, received First Division ratings from all three judges in the concert portion of the contest!  Some of the judges’ comments were: “Well done band.  Very mature sounds.” Another said, “This band plays musically and with great excitement.”  He also said, “Beautiful full, rich band sound.”  The last judge said, “Overall, a very well prepared and musical performance.”

After the concert competition the band had to go to a different room to compete in the sight-reading portion of the contest.  The students were given music they had never seen before, and were not allowed to look at it until given permission by a judge.  Then Mrs. Sanchez was given 7 minutes to talk them through the music and the band practiced fingering the notes.  Next it was time for the band to perform as all of the parents held their breath.  The band did very well and scored a 2^nd division, meaning it was a very good performance.  “I am extremely proud of my students,” says Mrs. Sanchez.  We are all very proud of these kids and the hard work and discipline it takes to compete at this level.