Brandeis High School band director Patrick Aguirre led students through detailed rehearsals at Farris Stadium ahead of Saturday’s UIL area competition at D.W. Rutledge Stadium, Yahoo reported. Aguirre corrected woodwind instrument angles, adjusted French horn dynamics and sang passages to demonstrate desired sounds.
The production, titled As Below, So Above, draws from Greek mythology and features music from Westworld, Tears for Fears, Hector Berlioz and Pines of Rome across roughly eight minutes and 76 formations. Students began learning music in spring and started marching at summer band camp in July, balancing early morning and afternoon rehearsals around schoolwork within UIL’s eight-hour weekly rehearsal limit.
Founding band director Richard Herrera, a former UIL judge and current UIL Region 11 music secretary, told students the group represents the best Brandeis band he has seen and praised the drumline and front ensemble. Freshman trumpet player Daniela Archer credited upperclassmen and section leaders with helping her transition from middle school. Senior drum major Joshua Markell said the band’s improvement is clearest when difficult passages come together. Senior woodwind captain Madeline Graham described the payoff as a physical and emotional sensation.
Aguirre, in his fifth year, said the band’s progress reminds him why he chose the profession. He credited parents, volunteers and associate directors with sustaining the program, which welcomed roughly 75 freshmen this year. Aguirre said upperclassmen mentor newcomers to help them feel comfortable.
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