The Cross Plains High School Buffalo Band has qualified for the UIL State Championship competition in Class 1A.    Band Director Jesus Perez explained:  “For Class 1A you have to make a 1st Division rating at the Area contest.  So many bands get a 1st Division rating that it actually goes to a ranking order.  We were ranked 1st in our Region, and qualified for the State marching contest.”

The Buffalo Band has three Drum Majors:  Ava McGowen, Addison Long, and Jolie Hutton, all Seniors.  McGowen explained the job of the Drum Major:  “Our job on the field is to keep time and tempo.  We make sure every band member can see us so they can see how fast we go or how slow we go.  Other jobs consist of making sure people pay attention during practices, making sure everyone has what they need for games, etc.”

Addison Long described this year’s show:  “Our show is entitled ‘The Heist’.  It features ‘Bad Guy’ by Billie Eilish, Beethoven’s symphonies #9, #7, and #5, and ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ by Coolio.”

Drum Major Jolie Hutton, who plays the clarinet, plans to attend Texas Tech University after graduation and major in Fine Arts.  Addison Long, who plays the flute, plans to attend Howard Payne University and major in Nursing.  Ava McGowen, who plays the trumpet, plans to attend either Texas Tech or the University of Texas and major in Psychology.

The Buffalo band will present their show to the State judges next Tuesday, November 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.  They are scheduled to perform first, at 9:00 a.m., so the band will travel in a chartered bus to San Antonio on Monday, and stop for one final practice on the field in Johnson City.  Fifteen bands from around the state will participate in the Class 1A State Championship competition.  If Cross Plains qualifies for the finals, that will take place Tuesday evening between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.

Director Perez is assisted by Anibel Rodriquez.  In the photograph above, left to right, are:  Anibel Rodriquez, Jolie Hutton, Addison Long, Ava McGowen, and Jesus Perez.

Perez commented:  “This is my fifth year here in Cross Plains.  I am really blessed to be at this school.  We have a really good diverse group of 56 students who work very hard for me.”

Good luck to the Cross Plains Buffalo Band!