The Kilgore band made history by becoming the first Kilgore band to qualify for the NAMMB (National Association of Military Marching Bands) State Military Marching Competition. This contest was held on Tuesday Oct. 29 at the Baylor University McLane Stadium in Waco. It’s been 5 years since the Band has earned a first division on marching. Now the band is back earning a first division.
“Oh man I’m feeling so excited, I think we’re gonna do better in 10 days when we go to State Marching Contest,” Band Director John Gaertner said. “We will prove to other bands and the community that the Kilgore Band is actually good.”
Led by Drum Majors seniors Sandy Rodriguez and Nahomi Briones, the band had mixed feelings going into the competition.
“I’m more nervous than excited,” Rodriguez said. “I like being able to reconnect with drum majors from other schools.”
The NAMMB state marching competition was finally here,with a total of 15 bands. This is the first time that the band has been to State in 30 years, making history. Kilgore performed at 4:45, and was ranked 11 out of 15. Their hard work and effort to go towards their marching is accomplishment in of itself. The band made history, and that’s what is important.
“I felt so excited, my heart was racing before we started because I was scared,” freshman Leonardo Velasco said. “But throughout the whole march, I think we did pretty good. I saw a few people mess up here and there but overall we’re the goats and we never lose” Leo also said “ We are going to practice and make Mr. G (Gaertner) proud.”
The band featured many marching formations, including rotating rectangles, St. Juliard diamonds, and Crosley.
“Crosley is probably the hardest just because it’s really complicated in terms of the shapes,and the people around me play bigger instruments and I’m smaller than them,” freshman Ivy Dowell said.
The band will split up into two: Symphonic and Wind Ensemble for the Christmas concert, and take another chair test for the spring to go to contest. Solo and Ensemble, All Region, Jazz, and more are coming up. The band will be ready for anything to come.