The Texas High Marching Band competed Oct. 18 in the Region IV UIL Marching Contest held at Mount Pleasant with several other bands from the surrounding area.

The band received a first division rating and will be competing in the area marching contest on Oct. 29 in Mesquite, Texas.

“Before we took the field, the whole band was nervous, not only because it was the UIL marching contest, but also because the ratings would determine if we would continue with our early morning and after school rehearsals,” senior Urvi Chikhliya said. “And of course if we would advance to the Area Marching contest in Mesquite.”

The members of the band were pleased with their performance and their rating.

“It was a great experience,” senior Alonso Corral said. ”I’m glad we got a one.”

It has been several years since the Texas High Marching Band has made it to area, and they plan on putting their all into their performance on Saturday with hopes of advancing on to the state competition.

“I think our band has improved over the past six years,” junior Krista Petty said. ”Overall, I am extremely happy with what we’ve done, and I can’t wait to see the results of our next competition.”

Band members had spent the past few weeks focusing on fundamentals.

“We were focused on all the things that Mr. [Buddy] Deese and our other directors told us that we needed to do in order to make a high score,” junior Joe Quinnelly said. “For example, where in the music to play loud or soft and how to make our marching fundamentals look better.”

The band will continue practicing at 7 a.m. for the area competition and will be having a few after school practices, but for now, they will celebrate their success.

“We were all screaming and were all really happy [when the score was announced],” Chikhliya said. “Mr. Deese was happy. I thought I was going to cry but didn’t. We all ended up hugging each other.”