On days April 19th and 20th, the Longhorn Honor and Symphonic band received the sweepstakes award in their UIL Concert and Sight Reading contest held at Foster High School. The Symphonic band had its contest Thursday, April 19th and the Honor Band had its contest on Friday, April 20th. The bands performed for three judges who graded the band on tone, technique and musicianship.
Under the direction of Assistant Director Lisa Stiles, the Symphonic Band performed Monterey March by Pierre LaPlante, Our Kingsland Spring by Hazo, and Moscow, 1941 by Balmages. Two out of the three judges gave the band a superior rating of 1 for their concert while the last judge gave them an excellent rating of 2. Overall, the band received a superior rating for their concert.
The band performed again for three judges in the sight reading portion of the contest. The band had to play a piece they have never seen or rehearsed before and only had seven minutes to be taught the piece. The judges gave the band’s performance straight superior ratings of 1.
For receiving both an overall rating of 1 in both concert and sight reading, the band achieved the Sweepstakes Award. This award is given to those bands who receive an overall superior rating in their concert and sight reading portions of the contest. Junior Bass Clarinetist Brandi Weaver was proud of their ratings and performance that afternoon.
“It was awesome,” said Weaver, “We sounded really good.”

Under the direction of head Director Daren Jordan, the Honor Band performed Invercargil March by Lithgo, Vartiations on Scarborough Fair by Custer, and Psalm 46 by Zdechlik. In the concert portion of the competition the band received two superior ratings of 1 and an excellent rating of 2. Overall, the band received a superior rating for their concert performance. The band performed again in the sight reading portion of the contest and received straight superior ratings of 1. Like the Symphonic band, the Honor band achieved the Sweepstakes Award.
This is the second year in a row that the top band at George Ranch has received the sweepstakes award, and the first year that the second band has received this honor. The legacy of the Longhorn band has just begun and will continue on through history.