“We are excited to be back in the Area Marching Competition. Our students continue to work hard every day and we look forward to Saturday!” said Sergio Mendez, Natalia High School Band Director.
More was added to their show last week which keeps getting more exciting and better and better each week!
“Last week we added a “Pre-Show” where the students walk out to their starting position. We have one student who plays the part of a little girl who is out walking around, and then she starts getting followed around. The band members come out from behind their screens to follow her and then get to their starting positions. Once they are in their starting positions, the show starts. This happens during the 5 minute warm up/ set up time before the actual show starts”.
For the fourth straight year, Natalia has received an overall Division I rating at the Region competition in Hondo. This is the second time in four years, and just the second time in school history, the band had received straight 1s, qualifying to the Area E Marching contest coming up this Saturday, October 28th at Cuero High School. The Mustang Band is marching with a school record 87 members!
Their show Paranormal features selections: “Unexplained Noises,” “Séance,” and “Get Out” by Gary Gilroy. “I really like the intensity of the show and how unpredictable the show is,” Mendez said. “There are spots to where it is quiet, and then the band just opens up,” Mendez said. Mendez is assisted by DeLeon, and Escobar, both whom are entering their fourth season with the program; and Ms. Delgado who enters her second.
This coming Saturday, October 28th, Natalia will be one of 26 bands at Area E contest competing in conference 3A starting at 8:30 am. Then 10 of those 26 bands will then advance to the finals which will begin at 8:00 p.m. that evening.
3A High Schools competing in prelims every 15 minutes starting at 8:30 that morning are: Lyford, San Diego, Odem, Edna, Goliad, Cotulla, Poth, Industrial, Blanco, George West, Marion, Falfurias, Taft, Jourdanton 12:00 noon, Santa Rosa, Hitchcock, Palacios, Mathis, London, Skidmore-Tynan, Randolph, Luling, Santa Gertrudis, Natalia 3:00 p.m., East Bernard, and Yoakum.
2A High Schools will follow between the 3A, but 2A will be prelim/finals at same time. They start at 4:45 p.m. with LaVilla, followed by Louise, Three Rivers, Sabinal 5:30, Falls City, Ganado, Santa Maria, Ben Bolt, Charlotte 7:00, Kenedy and Premont.
Natalia I.S.D. is hoping to provide a bus to take students and community members to Cuero on October 28th. Keep an eye out for this announcement on social media.
By K.K. Calame
Publisher