2016 Western Band Association Grand Championships at ClovisDec 21, 2016 by Michael Gilley
BOA Grand National Finalist Feature: Leander H.S.
BOA Grand National Finalist Feature: Leander H.S.
Follow the reinvention of the Leander High School band and its three-year year journey to Bands of America Grand National Finals.
The Leander High School marching band and director Robert Selaiden reached new heights last year by earning a trip to Indianapolis for the Bands of America Grand Nationals in November. Though the band had already achieved one of its major goals in 2016, Leander did not waste any time celebrating when it arrived at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Instead, Selaiden immediately noticed a fierce look in his performers eyes with an eventual finals berth on the line.
"Since we've gotten to Indiana, the kids have had this kind of killer instinct," Selaiden said at Grand Nationals. "They're here to do their job."
That business-like approach was the product of a three-year reinvention of the band by Selaiden and Leander's design team. In order to compete at the highest levels, the staff started to rethink how it was developing student leadership, rehearsing, and designing shows.
The results have been amazing. Since bursting onto the scene at the BOA San Antonio Super Regional, the band set forth a plan to push itself to Grand Nationals.
"We've really kind of broken what we thought the limits were for our students and ourselves as directors," Selaiden said.
The students at Leander maintained their intense focus through every rehearsal and performance this season -- all the way to a finals spot at BOA Grand Nationals. They knew it was going to be their last run, and they absolutely blew the roof off of Lucas Oil Stadium.
Instead, Selaiden immediately noticed a fierce look in his performers eyes with an eventual finals berth on the line.
"Since we've gotten to Indiana, the kids have had this kind of killer instinct," Selaiden said at Grand Nationals. "They're here to do their job."
That business-like approach was the product of a three-year reinvention of the band by Selaiden and Leander's design team. In order to compete at the highest levels, the staff started to rethink how it was developing student leadership, rehearsing, and designing shows.
The results have been amazing. Since bursting onto the scene at the BOA San Antonio Super Regional, the band set forth a plan to push itself to Grand Nationals.
"We've really kind of broken what we thought the limits were for our students and ourselves as directors," Selaiden said.
The students at Leander maintained their intense focus through every rehearsal and performance this season -- all the way to a finals spot at BOA Grand Nationals. They knew it was going to be their last run, and they absolutely blew the roof off of Lucas Oil Stadium.