The blast of brass and woodwind rhythms soared across the stadium turf and lifted above a capacity crowd Saturday at Leo Buckley Stadium.
Five high school bands and 12 middle school bands with color guards, dance teams and cheerleaders made for a true Spirit Spectacular.
The 46th edition of the annual Killeen ISD band showcase was the largest ever with about 1,400 students performing to a sell-out crowd of more than 4,000.
The high school bands performed their competition shows in exhibition one week before the start of a series of adjudicated performances leading to the UIL Region 8 marching contest October 19 at Midway ISD Panther Stadium.
This night, though, was a celebration.
Prior to each performance, a video on the stadium scoreboard featured a band student who excels beyond the band hall and marching turf.
Those featured students were Briana Peete of Shoemaker, Olivia Fruik of Killeen, Miguel Diaz Ochoa of Harker Heights, Emma Riepen of Chaparral and Callie Walker of Ellison.
The five illustrated this year’s Spirit Spectacular theme, ‘Yes, you can,’ recognizing that for most band students, music is just part of a well-rounded combination of skills and interests.
During the event, announcers praised KISD’s fine arts department, pointing out the proven academic and social benefits of music, theater and visual arts in life. For the third consecutive year, KISD is a Best Community for Music Education.
Ellison Band Director Erik Reynolds said the goal this year was to go beyond honoring great band performances and showcasing a few outstanding individual students.
For example, Killeen High School senior Fruik is the Kangarettes colonel and the head drum major for the band.
After the Fruik video played, she danced with the KHS dance team, then took her spot on the center podium to direct the rest of the Roo Band’s show, called “The Final Countdown.”
“It’s emotional,” she said of her final Spirit Spectacular. “I feel like I’ve had a really good run, so it’s emotional that it’s my last one. I’m excited we had the turnout we did. It’s sentimental and exciting.”
The extremely busy senior said she always wanted to be the Kangarettes colonel and that when the drum major opportunity became available, her directors encouraged her and helped facilitate the challenging double duty.
She also praised her peers in band and on the dance team for helping her accomplish the two leadership roles simultaneously.
“This particular event gives fine arts the recognition it deserves,” said Fruik. “It helps give them recognition and praise.”
The Shoemaker Grey Wolf Band began the evening with a show called “Invasion,” that suggested alien landing. The Killeen Roo Band followed with “The Final Countdown,” followed by the Harker Heights Red Brigade Band’s ode to water called “Lympha Aquam,” Latin for water goddess.
The Chaparral Bobcat Band performed a celebration of New Orleans called “Beyond the Crescent City” and Ellison finished the high school portion with “Infinite Horizons.”
The shows featured a wide variety of soloists, choral performers, electric guitars and keyboards, twirling sabers, rifles and flags, dance team high kicks, leaps and splits, as well as the traditional brass, woodwind and percussion.
For the grand finale, the high school bands returned to the turf and the 12 middle school bands joined, stretching across the field. Cheer, dance and color guard teams filled in the center and five drum majors stood on platforms to lead.
The combined bands ended the night with the famous-again ballad “Sweet Caroline.”
Ellison head drum major Jonathan Dominguez stood on the center podium for the finale. As a senior two-year drum major, it was a memorable final for him.
“I felt a little more prepared this year than last year,” he said. “It was still really stressful.”
Reflecting on his time in high school band, Dominguez said, “I’ve been with Ellison it feels like most of my life. I’ve seen so many Spirit Spectaculars. It’s crazy to think this is my last. It hasn’t really hit me.”
The senior was reminded this summer of the feel of home that band provides.
Dominguez marched with a traveling Drum Corps International band, making him late for high school summer band camp entering this season.
“Having such a supportive group behind me, supporting me the entire time I was gone and when I came home, I was able to come back and feel really well-greeted at home.”
There’s something special about the ties built in high school band that is reflected every year when KISD’s rival bands unite on a single field in front of a packed house.
“Being in a setting where we aren’t rivals (is special),” said Dominguez. “We just enjoy each other and enjoy marching band for what it is.”
Here are a few images from Spirit Spectacular: https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/with/72177720320530213
