Highlander Band Unveils Marching Show

The Highlander Band unveiled its 2019-20 competitive marching show, "Play!" at last week's football season-opener at Rockwall's Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadium and on home turf for HP fans during the Sept. 16 game vs Frisco Lone Star. This year's show evokes the innocence, imagination and pure, carefree joy of childhood, with crowd-favorite music selections, light-hearted choreography and a playground of props. 

State competition for 5A marching bands only occurs every two years, and 2019 is one of those years. Preparation for this year's highly competitive marching season began July 29 with two-a-day band camp practices combining musical rehearsals and marching. During the school year, the band continues to expand and refine the show with daily 6:45 a.m. rehearsals and weekly halftime performances, in preparation for a series of invitational and UIL marching competitions throughout the fall. Football and band fans will watch the show progress with every halftime performance as the band adds new sets, props, and costumes in preparation for their first competition, the Mansfield Invitational Marching Competition, Saturday, Sept. 28. During the last state marching season in 2017, the Highlander Band placed tenth in the state after progressing through regional and area competition to compete in the state finals for the first time in the band's history. 

Highlander Band announces Leadership Team and Pipe Corps

The Highlander Band relies on the Band Leadership Team (BLT) members to assist the band directors and serve as role models for the rest of the band. Through their positions on the BLT, students develop communication, organizational and problem-solving skills, as well as a strong work ethic and compassion for their fellow students, their school and the community.  Drum majors, captains and section leaders are chosen by the band directors after a highly-competitive audition process, while band officers campaign for their positions and are elected by their fellow band students. Pipe Corps volunteers must master a selection of bagpipe tunes to earn the right to wear the kilt and represent the Pipers at district events. Click here to see the list of dedicated students representing the Highlander Band on the BLT and Pipe Corps for the 2019-20 school year.