Ram Band Awards

The Waltrip HS RAM BAND performed Saturday, October 11, 2008 at the Katy ISD Pre-UIL Marching Contest and the Blinn College Buccaneer Marching Contest. The band received a 2^nd Division “Excellent” Rating at the Katy ISD Contest. The band then rebounded with a much improved performance at the Blinn College Marching Contest. The RAM BAND received a 1^st Division “Superior” Rating. We have attended this contest for the last 25+ years and have always finished behind Brenham HS. For the first time in our history, the band received 1^st place overall in Class 4A and also received the Most Outstanding Drum Major Award and the Most Outstanding Soloists’ Award. We are very proud of what our students have done up to this point and are now focused on the UIL Region 23 Marching Contest, which will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at Rhodes Stadium in Katy, TX. The band will perform at 5pm.

We received a 2^nd Division Rating at the Lamar Consolidated ISD Marching Contest on Saturday, October 4, 2008. The band also won Most Outstanding Drum Major and Most Outstanding Soloist.

The Waltrip Jazz Ensembles 1, 2 and 3 competed this weekend at the Willowridge Jazz Festival. Jazz 2 and 3 both received 2^nd division “Excellent” ratings for their performances. Jazz 1 received a 1^st division “Superior” rating for their performance. Jazz 1 also won 1^st place overall for the entire competition. All three of our bands had individuals to win soloists awards. They are…….

Jazz 3

Shelbe Blacklock – 11^th Gr. – Flute
Maria Ortiz – 9^th Gr. – Trumpet

Jazz 2

Harold Sedano – 9^th Gr. – Trumpet
Alan Gonzalez – 10^th Gr. – Alto Saxophone
Terry Edmond – 10^th Gr. - Piano

Jazz 1

Frederick Phillips – 12^th Gr. – Drum Set
Erick Caceres – 11^th Gr. – Bass Guitar
Gabriel Rodriguez – 12^th – Trumpet
Noel Compean – 12^th Gr. – Alto Saxophone (Most Outstanding Soloist of the Day Trophy)

Other Band news……..

Both the Concert Band and Symphonic Band participated in the UIL Concert/Sight-reading Contest. The Concert Band received a 2^nd Division “Excellent” Rating for their performance on stage and a 3^rd Division “Good” Rating for their performance in sight-reading. The Symphonic Band received a 2^nd Division “Excellent” Rating for their performance on stage and a 1^st Division “Superior” Rating for their performance in sight-reading.

Katy ISD Marching Contest

2^nd Division – Excellent Rating
Most Outstanding 4A Soloists
Most Outstanding Drum Major

Alief ISD Marching Contest

1^st Division – Superior Rating

Blinn College Marching Contest

1^st Division – Superior Rating
Most Outstanding 4A Soloists
2^nd Place 4A Band Trophy

UIL Region 23 Marching Contest

2^nd Division – Excellent Rating (I, II, II)
Top Rated 4A Marching Band
Selected to Advance to UIL Area E Marching Contest

UIL Area E Marching Contest

Excellent Performance
5^th Place overall
ONLY HISD High School Area Participant

The band received 1st divisions from all three judges, (not an easy task), resulting in an overall 1st Division Superior Rating at the UIL Marching Contest, October 24, 2006. Waltrip HS is the only band in the history of HISD to accomplish this feat. This is also not the first time the Ram Band has earned this rating. Last year the Ram Band also received an overall rating of 1st division and then moved onto the Area Level. We hope to keep our string of Superior Ratings so that next year we can again move onto Area and then maybe to the State level.

Symphonic Band

Concert Band

1st Jazz Band

2nd Jazz Band