The sounds of drums large and small overlapped with crashing cymbals, twinkling chimes, xylophones and gongs.
The inaugural Drums in the Heartland percussion invitational Saturday at Joseph L. Searles Stadium in Killeen attracted participants from 11 schools that competed in two divisions.
With the traditional sounds of percussion, the varied ensembles included elements of brass and woodwinds, amplified keyboards and guitars and even a choral solo.
Far more than displaying the familiar steady beats of pep rallies and football games, the drum lines performed with moving harmonies and rising and falling narration.
The Harker Heights High School Red Brigade Band hosted the first-year event. Band Director Eric Skinner and Percussion Director Clay Roesler predicted the new competition would attract even more interest in coming years.
“I feel really good about it,” said Roesler. “This is something Harker Heights has never done before. To get 11 groups out here the first year including groups like Hutto and Bowie with 300 band members means we can invite a lot more in the future.”
“It creates a lot of camaraderie. Our kids can go meet those directors and kids from out of the area. That is great.”
Bowie High from the Austin ISD and Hutto High earned the most points respectively in the larger band Black Division. Chaparral finished fourth and Shoemaker was sixth in that group.
In the smaller band Red Division, Temple won the event and Ellison finished in third place.
Academy, Valley Mills, Belton, Wimberley and Lorena made up the rest of the competition. The hosting Red Brigade Band performed in exhibition outside the adjudicated contest.
Percussion captains from the three competing KISD bands said it was a unique and productive opportunity for the close-knit drum line musicians to work together.
“It’s a great opportunity,” said Ellison senior Luis Rael, Screaming Eagle Band percussion captain. “People around the world don’t have this opportunity. It’s great to be in an environment where everyone is free to do what they love, which is music for me,” he said.
“Percussion has a strong relationship. We always keep each other up personally and in the band. This makes us stronger. We can hear our mistakes and help each other.”
“We have a lot of energy. We are the floor of the band – if it is tilted, the whole band is off. If we are straight, the whole band will be straight. That’s our job.”
“I really enjoy being such a big part of the band,” said Shoemaker junior John Hall, Grey Wolf Band percussion captain.
“We have to keep the pulse and the tempo. We are the heart. There is also a lot that can (go wrong). Percussion can be the heart and the downfall of the band,” Hall said.
“I always enjoy drum line competition. This is our moment to shine. We don’t have to think as much about overplaying the band. This is about us.”
“We definitely have fun, but it comes with a lot of hard work,” said Chaparral senior Ahmyr Etienne, Bobcat Band percussion captain. “We have to be consistent and stay together and we always support each other.”
“Competitions like this help us work on our skills. It makes us focus and work even harder.”
Roesler was quick to praise his students and the whole band, which begins working together in late summer and performs and competes throughout the fall. Harker Heights band members worked as volunteers during the day-long event.
“It’s really the dedication from the kids. I remind them a lot I’m not teaching for me. I teach because I get to teach you guys every day,” said Roesler. “Moving them in a direction where they can get better and have opportunities like this is really cool for them.”
Drums in the Heartland photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720329017165
Killeen residents have a perfect opportunity this Saturday to support KISD marching bands and fine arts at the 47th annual Spirit Spectacular. The show starts at 7 p.m. September 20 at Leo Buckley Stadium.
All five KISD marching bands with dance teams and color guards will showcase their competition shows as they begin the season leading to the UIL region contests in October.
In addition, the district’s 12 middle school bands and other spirit groups will get time on the field, and the entire group will provide a spectacular finale to conclude.
Spirit Spectacular tickets are available at the following:
https://spiritspectacular47.simpletix.com/