On May 9th, the San Saba High School Band traveled to the tip of Texas to compete in the South Texas Music Festival in South Padre Island, Texas. The band, under the direction of Jason Howard and Emily Andrews, made the 8-hour drive down to the Island on chartered busses from San Antonio, arriving around 5:30 p.m., which gave them enough time to check into the hotel and spend some time on the beach before sunset.

The next day, the band performed at the Shrimp Haus Restaurant which is located inside of the Schlitterbahn Beach Resort. San Saba was one of five high school bands that performed and one of the smallest schools that competed. The band performed their UIL Concert program and received a Division 1-Superior Rating from the judges and a well deserved vacation. They enjoyed the rest of the day at the Schlitterbahn Beach Resort before heading to Louie’s Backyard for an all-you-can-eat surf and turf buffet.

On May 11th, the band spent the morning on the beach and swimming in the Gulf of Mexico before bidding a fond farewell to the South Texas Island and heading back home.

The Division 1 rating earned caps off a huge year for the Golden Armadillo Band, which has done very well. During football season, the band competed in the UIL Marching Contest earning a 2nd Division- Excellent Rating and last month earned a 2nd Division- Excellent Rating in the Concert and Sight-reading Contest. Solo honors this year went to Justin Barker who placed 6th chair trombone out of 50 in the Region and advanced to the Area competition placing 26th out of 75. Barker has also been named as a Texas Music Scholar for the second year in a row by the Texas Music Educators Association. There are only 1200 students in the state with that honor.

Next for the band will be their Spring Awards Concert, which will be at 7:00 p.m. in the Armadillo Arena on Thursday, May 22nd. The middle school bands will perform at 6:00 p.m. in the Armadillo Arena on Thursday, May 22nd.

The public is welcome to attend. For more information about the bands or Fine Arts in San Saba, please call the band hall at 325-372-5498.