The band will be performing in the USBands Southwestern Championships at the AT&T Stadium at 9 p.m. Oct. 28.
“It’s a one-time performance,” head band director Andy Sealy said. “It’s part of the long journey, which is our season.”
For the past couple years, the contest has been held at AT&T Stadium. The stadium includes a variety of structures, such as electric displays, that creates a different performance environment the band isn’t used to.
“This will be a great experience — for the kids to get to play in a dome, as opposed to an outdoor stadium — because it’s a different listening environment,” Sealy said. “The kids are hearing different things. There’s more to distract them with, [like] electronic displays that we don’t normally see in a high school stadium.”
The contest will be held over the span of multiple days, with the days being divided among classes. The band will be competing in the World Class division.
The band’s 2025 show “Field Trip” includes pieces such as “Magical Mystery Tour” by the Beatles, the soundtrack music from “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001) and “Leviathan” (1989).
“It’s just so much fun to listen to,” drum major Thomas du Fief said. “[This] is the only time we get to perform in a stadium before state. Our show is on a really good trajectory to have a good performance.”
This show will help prepare the band for the Bands of America circuit, as well as state.
“Our preparation has gotten a lot more intense as the season has gone on,” drum major Ursula Ho said. “We have seen a lot more pressure from the public with our performances compared to other LISD schools.”
The band rehearses before and after school, as well as attends competitions occurring most weekends. Last year, they placed first in this competition.
“I think the AT&T stadium provides a new viewpoint of the world. [We’re] performing for such a large audience in a new environment,” Ho said. “You can feel [the] passion for [the] music and how much [we] really enjoy doing [it].”
The UIL Area competition was Oct. 25. The band placed second out of 20 other schools and advanced to state.
“It’s an elimination event for us,” Sealy said. “We have to pass through this competition [to move on to state.] They have different priorities between [that] and [US+Bands Southwestern Championships].”
Their show consists of three parts and lasts around eight minutes and 30 seconds.
“I think we’re all excited to perform in that stadium,” du Fief said. “Last year was fun, I think we’re all excited to go back.”
