by Kathleen Calame
Publisher, The Devine News
Three local bands are excited after earning a trip to the UIL State Marching Competition coming up November 10-12, 2025. They earned the right with their performance last weekend in the Area E Marching Finals.
On Saturday, November 1, the Lytle Pirate Band made school history by earning back-to-back trips to the UIL State Marching Contest! “The rain could not put out our fire today…instead, they set fire to the rain, and lit ‘em up in Beeville!” said Lytle ISD Band Director Joshua Chessher. “This makes the Pirate Band STATEBOUND for the second time in 2 years!”
What a honor it is for the students and their leaders to be able to represent their schools at the State Marching Competition. The band leaders and students start their workouts during the end of summer and have been working hard all during the fall season to get the chance to advance to State. It doesn’t happen that often, so it is a big big deal. It is hard for smaller rural schools to compete with the schools who have much more resources, and band directors. When you see schools drive up with 18 wheelers full of equipment and props at Area, and park next to the trailers small schools have it is an eye opening experience. But small schools have a lot of passion and their hard work pays off when they get a chance to advance to State.
The Pirate Band delivered an outstanding performance at the UIL Area E Marching Contest qualifying the band for State competition. “A tremendous accomplishment that reflects the dedication, talent, and teamwork of our incredible student musicians,” said Chessher.
“This year’s milestone marks the 8th consecutive 1st Division rating in Marching for the Pirate Band at Region — a tradition of excellence that continues to make Lytle ISD proud. We are so incredibly proud of our students, directors, and staff for their unwavering commitment and passion that make achievements like this possible,” said Chessher. Now they have added back-to-back wins at Area which qualified them for trips to STATE.
Congratulations to all 89 members of the Pirate Band on this remarkable success — and best of luck as they prepare for the next level of competition at State, on November 12 in the Alamodome in SA.
Lytle will perform in the 2025 State Marching Band Championships in the 3A division on Wednesday, November 12 in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. They will compete against 23 bands for a chance to march in the finals that evening. Lytle High School Pirates will take the field at 12:55 for a 1:00 performance. Every 15 minutes another band performs. Jourdanton High School also qualified to State and will perform at 2:15. Hondo High School also qualified and will perform at 3:45 pm.
An Exhibition Band will be the last performance of the morning/afternoon session at 4:00 pm followed by the announcements at 4:15 of the top ten finalists. Finals will begin during the next session at 7:00 pm that evening, ending at 10:00 pm with an awards presentation.
Ticket Information-Single Session Tickets: $22 plus fees. Double Session Tickets: $38 plus fees.
Double Session Ticket Options: Sessions 4 and 5 are the 3A division bands. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early to avoid congestion at the doors. The Box Office will open 75 minutes prior to first performance of the day and doors will open 45 minutes prior to the first performance in each session.
Tickets are available at the Alamodome box office or through Ticketmaster.
They do have a clear bag policy.
See additional story on the UIL State Band Marching Competition in this week’s newspaper.
2025-2026 Lytle HS Band Leadership Team:
Head Drum Major – Collin Sprenger
Assistant Drum Majors – Camila Vega and Nadia Daniels
Color Guard Captain – Journee Mendoza
Color Guard Lieutenants – Haylee Ward and Lily Morales
Woodwind Captain – Nadia Daniels
Woodwind Drill Instructors – Brooke Tollett, Emiliano Cardenas
Flute Section Leader – Orlando Gutierrez
Clarinet Section Leaders – Julyana Frausto
Sax & Low Reed Section Leader – Emma Emery
Sax & Low Reed Section Leader – Emma Emery
Brass Captain – Koby Lara
Brass Drill Instructors – Gabi Cortez and Timothy Gutierrez
High Brass Section Leaders – Maddie Maldonado and Auslyn Beazer
Low Brass Section Leader – Lidon Hernandez
Drumline Section Leader – Nevaeh Kassin
Front Ensemble Section Leader – Taryn McDonald
Band Directors – Joshua Chessher, MJ Robles, Javier Lopez, Bertie Salazar, and Errian Morin
