Eight years had passed since the last time the Houston High School band received the highest possible rating at the state level.
But this year’s version of the Tiger Pride Band ended that streak by earning a “1” rating March 20 at the annual Large Ensemble inside the West Plains Civic Center.
Bands participating at the festival (and similar events around the state) perform two pre-selected pieces in front of three judges, who grade what they hear and are seated far enough away to hear the entirety of the ensemble. Houton’s selections included “On a Hymnsong of Phillip Bliss,” by David Holsinger, and “Mars” (from a “The Planets”), written by Gustav Holst and arranged by William Owens.
Of the 12 bands performing at West Plains this year, only four earned the “1.” The event is basically the “state” competition for participants.
“It’s the first superior rating in my career as a director,” Roy said. “It’s very exciting –– not just for the kids in the school, but it’s a real achievement for me from a professional standpoint. I could not be prouder of these students.”
A Louisiana native now in his fourth year at the helm of HHS band, Roy said one of the primary things that led to the band’s success was the players’ collective approach.
“It has a lot to do with the kids’ hard work and dedication, and the way they all bought into the music we were playing and enjoyed playing it,” he said. “With that, they were able to grow a lot as individual players and as a group.”
Roy said there was another major influence at work this year, too.
“I think another aspect of it is that this is my fourth consecutive year here at Houston,” he said. “As I recall, previously to my being here there were many directors in and out the door fairly regularly. When I was in high school, I had three directors in four years. It was very tough to always be adjusting to a new director and warm up to them and their style. It’s like, just as soon as you start to like someone, they’re gone and you have to start over.
“Consistency is important and when it’s not there, that’s hard from a student’s standpoint.”
On March 21, 17 HHS band members returned to West Plains for the district Solo and Small Ensemble gathering. With four ensembles and three soloists performing in various disciplines, the Tigers brought home 14 medals and had eight students qualify for the state competition May 3 in Columbia.
Houston students earning a “1” rating at districts and advancing to state include the brass ensemble of Robert Kinney, Zack Prorok, Spencer Lybyer, Tyler Goff and Jonathan Lewis, baritone soloists Dustin Calhoun and Ely Todd, and French horn soloist Olivia Woosley. Tigers receiving a “2” at the district event included the clarinet trio of Brooklyn Willet, Grady Todd and Nevada Leighty and the saxophone trio of Shania Smith, Weston Phipps and Ty Johnson.
“They all did a great job,” Roy said. “It was a really good day.”
Next up for Roy and some of his HHS players is the St. Charles West Jazz Invitational Saturday in St. Charles. The trip will be the first of its kind for the Tiger jazz band during the Roy era. The group will perform a 30-minute set while being judged by professional jazz musicians, and then receive valuable instruction.
“They’ll have a 30-minute rehearsal with their judge, to give them feedback and help them work on some things to become better overall,” Roy said. “It’s a really exciting event.”
The HHS jazz band consists of 21 students, the most since Roy arrived.
“Going to St. Charles is part of a building process,” Roy said. “With so many players now, we get the full combo –– all the parts are covered. They really like to work hard, perform and have a good time.”
Some jazz band members have learned to play new instruments in order to join the group.
“We have flute players now playing saxophone, and we have a vocalist and a French horn player now playing trombone,” Roy said. “You don’t see French horns or flutes in jazz band, so having them learn an entirely new instrument in a year’s time and sound as good as they do is really impressive.
“It shows how hard they’ve worked.”
The annual Houston Schools band concerts are set for May 9 in Hiett Gymnasium, with the middle school performing at 6 p.m. and the high school at 7 p.m.
Dates for Roy’s annual summer band camp are still being worked out, but it will include a week of marching, a week of color guard and percussion instruction, and a week of full band participation. This year’s halftime show at HHS home football games will feature a tribute to George Gershwin.
“He combined classical music and jazz into its own thing,” Roy said.
The show will include a medley of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and “An American in Paris.” Roy said he hasn’t been able to locate satisfactory literature for the show, so he’s working on his own.
“I’ve begun writing the music for the show so we have quality stuff the students will strive for but also be able to achieve,” he said. “I’ll write the program to their strengths, but also keep the educational aspect of it.”
Roy said he loves being in his current situation.
“I couldn’t be happier with the support the band receives here,” he said. “I have many friends who are now band directors all over the U.S. and a lot of them would only dream of getting the kind of support for the arts that we have here in Houston.
“It’s definitely worth sticking around for.”
I have many friends who are now band directors all over the U.S. and a lot of them would only dream of getting the kind of support for the arts that we have here in Houston.”
Click here to watch a video of the Houston High School Tiger Pride Band’s superior performance at the West Plains Civic Center:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ67QwyPinI