A strong performance by the Houston High School Tiger Pride Marching Band netted the ensemble a second-place showing in a competition April 20-23 in New Orleans, La.
Houston School district band director Michael Roy said nine bands from several states participated in the event, which was hosted by the WorldStrides OnStage, a Utah-based company that specializes in “educational travel experience for performing arts students of all ages.”
A contingent of 40 students and 11 adults from Houston took part in the trip. Participating bands’ performances took place at Landry Walker High School in New Orleans, in front of a panel of judges who provided input and advice to players and directors following each performance.
The HHS band played “Symphonic Dance No. 3,” by Clifton Williams, and “Salvation is Created,” by Chesnokov.
“Those are not for the faint of heart,” Roy said. “They played them really well and I was very proud of them. Especially some of the younger guys who had to really work hard to get those together.
“I’m not going to lie – they surprised me.”
Getting feedback from judges was beneficial to everyone involved, Roy said.
“They made some points on how we could make a few spots better on those pieces,” he said. “That was educational for the students, but also for me because these judges might see something different than I do.”
While playing in New Orleans, HHS band players wore their new, recently acquired polyester uniforms. Roy said the fabric was chosen for a couple of reasons.
“They are machine washable, if needed,” he said, “and they’re not as hot as the wool uniforms we’ve had previously. We will dry clean them to extend their age, but we can throw them in a washing machine in a pinch – like if the football team leaves us a very muddy field to march on.
“But these uniforms will be great to take care and will easily last the next 10-12 years.”
The “package deal” trip orchestrated by WordStrides included visits to the National World War II Museum, the Aquarium of the Americas and Cafe du Monde, cooking lessons at the New Orleans School of Cooking, a swamp boat tour at LaPlace and a private concert put on by seasoned jazz musicians at the iconic venue, Preservation Hall. It concluded with a banquet at Mardis Gras World, featuring a masquerade party and awards and recognition ceremony.
Roy said it was the trip of a lifetime for many participants.
“For a lot of the students, it was their first time outside Missouri, and for others it was their first time outside Texas County,” he said.
Roy said funding for the trip was raised over the past four years, largely by band members working the concession stands during Houston Parks and Recreation Department basketball games.
“We took 100-percent of the profits and gave it back to the kids,” he said. “So for every shift they worked they received $69. When we left, students had either paid for their trip outright or worked off a large chunk of the cost. Some of them paid a bunch and worked a bunch, so that when we left I handed them an envelope with cash, because they had earned it through the fundraising.
“Before we left, I handed out $1,400 to students.”
Roy said he worked with a young band this year.
“Our strength is also our weakness,” he said. “We have a very young group – we’re only graduating five seniors this year. But we have another 20 or so eighthgraders coming up next year.
“The band is growing very quickly, which is exciting but it’s also tough when your leadership is so few. Normally, your older students are your stronger players, and they’re able to lead the group and the younger players. But our youth is a one of our strengths because some of our younger players are really solid and have really stepped up to the plate.”
Roy is finishing his seventh year with Houston Schools.
“My first sixth-grade class is now seniors,” he said. “I’ve had some students for seven years, so I’ve seen them start and finish.
“So good, bad or ugly, at Houston Schools, band is my fault.”