From “down the witch’s road” to the lights of Broadway to blue skies and “great balls of fire,” Killeen ISD’s bands showed off their spectacular spirit.
A sold-out crowd at Leo Buckley Stadium cheered 1,400-plus middle school and high school band, dance team, color guard and cheer team members Saturday at the 47th annual Spirit Spectacular.
Each of KISD’s five high school bands began the evening performing their competition marching shows a week before most will begin contest season leading to the UIL region events in October.
Between the five performances, Ellison Band Director Erik Reynolds interviewed chosen band students on the field about their high school band experience.
At the conclusion of the high school band shows, the district’s 12 middle school bands and other spirit groups took the field, joining their older peers to finish the spectacular night with a grand finale playing “Great Balls of Fire.”
Throughout the evening, announcer Warren Kostencki read out $5-apiece shoutouts praising and encouraging individual students.
He and other guest announcers spoke of the high value of fine arts in public schools and the high achievements of KISD’s fine arts department. For the fourth year, KISD is a Best Community for Music Education.
This year’s show, called “Better Together,” displayed visually and through music and drill the unifying power of artistry done in collaboration.
Five senior drum majors expressed their excitement at entering their final year of high school band, determined to pass along their passion to a new generation.
Shoemaker Grey Wolf Band senior drum major Flavio Gabriel
Show Title: “Blue Skies”
“I thought that was a great expectation. We just put our full production on the field. It’s a great feeling to start the night. I hope we set the bar high, and we have only up to go. As a band student, this means a lot. This is a good chance to see what every school has to offer and to support around the district and support that culture.”
Killeen Roo Band senior drum major Jillian Moody, who also performs with the Kangarettes dance team
Show Title: “A Stitch in Time”
“Our show is called A Stitch in Time. Our uniforms are like the outside of what you would sew together. We are stitching together music about spending time together. This show is a big opportunity. I can connect with the middle schools and the other high schools, and it gives me a lot of connections. My directors have helped me so much to allow me to do both. I’ve always loved band and always wanted to be a Kangarette. It’s such an opportunity and I’m very thankful for it.”
Chaparral Bobcat Band senior drum major Kamila Merchan-Liu
Show Title: “Whispers in the Woods”
“I love our show, how we can be creative and embrace it, make it our own. I like the persona of it. We made a big switch this year. I love Spirit Spectacular. I love seeing all my friends and the other bands and the work they have done. I’ve been coming to this since eighth grade. It’s great. I love it.”
Harker Heights Red Brigade Band senior drum major Joshua Duemas
Show Title: “Neon Knights”
“It means a lot to lead the band my senior year. I love the dedication the band puts in. It’s really paid off. Our show is really well-produced celebrating our school’s 25th anniversary. The combination of all the bands and the collaboration between all the schools is really heart-warming and exciting.”
Ellison Screaming Eagle Band senior drum major Shawniece Grimes
Show Title: “A Night in New York”
“As a senior and a drum major this is about taking a trip together somewhere you’ve always wanted to be and enjoying the music. Spirit Spectacular is all of us coming together, playing music, celebrating each other and being there for one another. We see where we started in middle school and where we have progressed together.”
Spirit Spectacular 2025 photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720329169967