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HHS and HHSS Marching Bands get ready for state competition

The Harlingen High School and Harlingen High School South Marching Bands are continuing the tradition for excellence by moving forward to the University Interscholastic League (UIL) State Marching Contest on Nov. 6.

“Words cannot describe how happy I am for our students,” said Shane Shinsato, band director for HHSS. “They learned a valuable life lesson about working hard and never giving up on something they really want.  This is the best band that I have ever had the privilege to be in front of.”

Both bands have advanced through multiple levels of competition to get to the final contest, and have been practicing since before the start of the school year. Bands compete every other year for the state title. The next state competition will take place in 2014.

“A lot of planning went in ahead of time before even teaching the students,” said Ronnie Rios, band director at HHS. “We strategized, put in intellectual thought and creativity. Then the student’s working hard plus being smart was the formula which put us in this great position.”

To get ready for the final competition, practices have been more focused, and students have been enthusiastic to work with their team towards their final goal.

Over 40 bands from across Texas will be competing for the state title. HHS and HHSS are one of eight marching bands selected from the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and San Antonio to advance to the final level.

Both band directors are optimistic that their upcoming performance will be the best of the season, and are confident the students are determined to show off their hard work.

“I think they will perform the best they have all season,” Rios said. “In that moment they will recognize the magnitude of the event and realize that this is what they have been working for all season.”

To recognize the bands ‘achievements, the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District hosts a special presentation during halftime at Bird Bowl XX.  The bands will perform after the game.

The UIL State Marching Contest will be held at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The HHSS Marching Band will perform at 7:30 a.m.

The HHS Marching Band will perform at 11:30 a.m.

Finals will begin at 8:15 p.m.

For individuals not able to attend, UIL will offer passes to be purchased for a live webcast of the event.

 

 

To find more information about the UIL live webcast click here.

To purchase tickets for the event click here.

For the full schedule click here.

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