ATEMS

Early morning practices preparing for a season in the heat of August in Texas are – in the minds of most people – reserved for football teams preparing to play under the Friday Night Lights. But since the end of July, other teams across Texas have been preparing just as hard for their moment under the lights, as well as statewide competition in October and November.

The marching bands, drill, flag, and dance teams of high schools across the state have also been working hard to perfect their shows for fans at stadiums across Texas. It’s no different in Abilene, where the bands at Abilene High and Cooper began practice on Wednesday, July 31, even before the football teams began practicing.

Here’s a glance at each band’s shows and efforts leading up to the UIL Marching Band Contests:

Cooper
The Awesome Cooper Band is in its fourth year under John Landin's direction. The band members directly under him as the drum majors for Cooper in 2024-25 are seniors Rylan Murray and Derek Crespo and junior Ben Walter. They are leading a 158-member band, a bigger and younger version than last year’s version.

The theme for Cooper’s 2024 show is “Inspiration,” a show that came about after band students described what inspires them. The answers are hidden in the band’s props, with a graphic designed by Dorydotdesign. The show features music from Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre, Coldplay, and original music by Paul Jasso.

Multiple soloists and ensembles will perform during the show: Murray and Arianna Normand switch out as soloists week on clarinet; Kenneth Heck has a trombone solo; and the flute feature consists of the quartet of Angela Lozano, Isis Salazar, Sierra Billiet, and Avi Rodriguez. 

Band members have been working on music since last November after the 2023 marching season ended. Landin said he and the band members want the theme for this year’s show to be a thought-provoking segment for those watching the performance.

“I want our audience to think about what inspired them growing up and currently,” Landin said. “As a parent, my children inspire me daily. Our goal as a group is to be better than we were yesterday. Our leadership continues to push our group past our comfort level. We look forward to showcasing what we worked on each week in our performance.”

Cooper’s first show of the contest season is the Wylie Big Country Marching Festival on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Hugh Sandefer Stadium, with UIL marching contests at the regional level starting Oct. 21. Landin said the band has almost finished learning the entire show and looks forward to improving each week until contest season begins.

Abilene High
Amber Moore begins her second season as the director of the Oldest Marching Band in Texas, with 40 more members this year than in last year’s band. The drum majors at Abilene High this year are seniors Lianna Pfrimmer and Cole Elders, who lead the band in its 98th year.

Abilene High’s show in 2024 is entitled “The Space Between the Stars,” an abstract concept that allows the band to pull from the associations with space that are generally “mysterious, grandiose, and even fearful,” Moore said. “Focusing on celestial space allows us an anchor point in which we perform great music and create an emotional arc and stage set that intrigues audiences while delivering a quality of excellence that pushes the Eagle Band students and program to the next level.”

Moore and designer Greg White began planning the show last November, engaging in creative discussions and collaborating with other writers, designers, and graphic artists to bring their vision to life.

The music for the show was arranged by Alex Thode and is comprised of the following selections: Symphony No. 9 by Dvorak, “Central Park” (King Kong) by James Newton Howard, “Rewrite the Stars” (The Greatest Showman)  by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, John Debney, and Joshua Trapanese. Three soloists are featured in the show: Renee Barber on clarinet in “Central Park,” Anson Cobarruvias on trombone in “Rewrite the Stars,” and Carrie Mercer as the featured dancer.

In addition to the music, the show features three different props: eight large backfield screens with two different graphics on each side, handmade spheres that will make a special appearance in the closing number, and 12 front sideline screens, turning the field into a celestial scene. Moore said numerous band parents, students, and community members spent time updating and working on the props to prepare them for the show.

Like Cooper, Abilene High is not only working each week on its Friday night shows but also pushing toward contest season, which begins next month. While one goal is to reach the state marching contest in San Antonio, Moore said the ultimate goal is to put a product on the field for which everyone can be proud.

“Everyone wants to be successful and see their hard work pay off in accolades, but I believe the true testament of a successful season is working with the staff and students to mold and shape the final product into something they can be proud of for years to come,” she said. “I want the kids to have a sense of ownership in the program, which is why it is so fun for us to see them come up to us with ideas that they would love to see incorporated. The ultimate goal is for everyone involved to work together and leave it all on the field so that when the final note is played at the end of this season, the memories and friendships they made will stick with them for a lifetime.”