Wednesday was an amazing day for our Roarin’ Lion Band, as they accomplished a feat that hadn't been at done at VHS in seven years – win a Sweepstakes Trophy!!
The band competed at the UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest yesterday in Wichita Falls and earned a Division 1 (Superior) rating for both their concert and sight reading performances. The last Sweepstakes Trophy the band won was in 2019.
“Our students have put in countless hours of practice, and overcome many setbacks throughout the preparation of these pieces (including the snow storm),” Roarin’ Lion Band Director Jeremiah Hastings said. “Their discipline and artistry were on full display yesterday.”
To receive a Division 1 in the Concert portion of the competition bands must receive a Division 1 rating from two of the three judges who are judging their performance. Three different judges then judge the band for their Sight Reading performance, and at least two judges must give the band a Division 1 rating. The Roarin’ Lion Band received a total of five Division 1 ratings.
“This is the second consecutive year for our band to receive a Superior rating for our Concert performance," Hastings added. "What makes this year truly special is the students accomplished this while performing a significantly more difficult and sophisticated repertoire than last year.”
The Sight Reading portion of the contest is the most difficult. The band does not know what piece of music they will perform until the members are sitting in the sight-reading room and they are allowed to open the music folders on their stands. Once they open the folders, the director has a set amount of time to review the piece and point out specific things in the music – where a solo might be, where a time change or key change may occur, where a rhythm change may be, etc. – then the band plays the song.
“Sweepstakes is the highest collective honor a band can earn and we are so proud of all of our students for this massive achievement,” the band director said.