Members of the Rio Hondo Bobcat Marching Band drumline are pictured during Friday night’s halftime performance at Bobcat Stadium. (Photo by T.J. Tijerina)
By JOE BOCANEGRA
Special to the NEWS
RIO HONDO – The Rio Hondo High School Bobcat Marching Band is at it again as they advance to the UIL 3A State Marching Competition on Monday.
“We’re very excited,” Band Director Robert Garza said. “We hope we will do well.”
Of the 42 bands that played in the Area competition in Laredo this past weekend, the Bobcat band placed second and landed a spot as state qualifiers. This marks the sixth time they have accomplished as much.
“We first won Area in 2002,” Garza said. “That year was when we basically learned everything about State, and we got placed 16th. Since then, we have been getting in State every competition.”
In 2004, they won eighth place at state, then fourth in ’06, second in ’08 and sixth in ’10.
“We, the students and the directors, have a tremendous work ethic,” Garza said. “We have high expectations of the kids, and they also set their sights high.”
The band members are just as enthusiastic.
“I am very excited over this,” an alto sax player, C.J. Olvera, said. Currently in 11th grade, the 16-year-old will be attending State competition for his second year.
“Last year went really well,” he says. “The seniors helped me out a lot then, so I will try to do my best this year.”
Another student who is ready for Monday is flutist Kayla Suarez, a 16-year-old junior. “Our hard work will pay off,” she said. “We are ready for competition. Hopefully,” she adds, “we will get a metal.”
The band’s show, according to Garza, is based on composer Gustav Mahler’s first symphony.
“It is going to be an Indiana Jones-esque adventure,” he said. “We’ll be expecting lots of response from the crowd.”
The band will play at 2:45 p.m. Monday in San Antonio at the Alamodome.
Read this story in the Nov. 4 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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