In one of the most highly talented and fiercely competitive regional contests, the 2018 BOA Austin Regional did not disappoint. Bands from across central Texas came together at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex and battled through an extended rain delay followed by more scattered showers. 

In the end, Claudia Taylor Johnson came away with their 2nd straight BOA regional championship in 2018 and their second consecutive Austin Regional championship.

With a score of 83.750, CTJ narrowly edged out Leander (83.100) and Vandegrift (82.300). The awards for Outstanding Music Performance, Visual Performance, and General Effect went to Leander, Vista Ridge, and Claudia Taylor Johnson respectively.

The Visual Performance caption award was the first in school history for Vista Ridge.

Claudia Taylor Johnson is one of the best programs in the country at transporting you to a different world. For 2018, they arrive by ship and they dive head first into the sea. The production value is incredible because this show resembles more of a theater show than a marching band show. The amount of drill and bodywork throughout the show is jammed packed. The visual production never stops. Not to mention the unbelievably powerful sound the band is able to kick out. The closing movement gets the audience on their feet when the color guard unveils the American flags while the band is unleashing a beautiful arrangement of America The Beautiful.

As Leander was taking the field, there was an immediate contrast in color presented by the massive +/- signs that oppose each other. The opening set it the classic Yin/Yang symbol. The show begins with a percussive onslaught as the band re-stages the block props. Then when the winds make their presence felt it is done with contrast circular drill. A saxophone soloist on side 1 literally entices the woodwinds to join him by the negative sign. What ensues is a masterful display of technical playing by the woodwinds. The ballad features a beautiful call and answer between a french horn and oboe as the guard and rest of the band stage themselves for the main impact. During the next movement, the color guard takes center stage as they show off an impressive display of flag work reminiscent of their 2018 WGI Scholastic A world champion show.

Vandegrift opens the show with a thunderous percussion entrance as the drill signifies the battery being shot out from Artemas’ bow. As the brass peals the paint off walls, the woodwinds are weaving through the brass forms. After a wonderful display of technical skill by the woodwinds, the trumpets unleash a fanfare to behold. Vandegrift's feet timing and body control when changing from slow to fast speed are already in mid-season form. During their ballad, the Vision Dance Company takes center stage with an unbelievable swing flag hit while holding bright LED lights in their free hand. Up next, the front ensemble decides to show off their chops with an extended 16th note run. As the movement progresses, the Vision Dance Company has a turn uniform change that is a color explosion. 

Vista Ridge’s technical abilities are one of the most impressive in the country. The quartet that leads into the first hit introduces Vista Ridge’s signature. They bring a polished concert sound to the field that few can achieve sitting still. Wonderful box drill at the end of their opening movement creates a lot of contrary motion on the field. The flugelhorn and soprano sax soloists create such a beautiful moment during the ballad while spinning on top of their compass prop. This ballad will be one of the most artistically musical moments of the fall. During the next jazz movement, the trombone soloist takes charge with a tasty passage. The cymbals then take over the center stage by spinning and doing some crazy cool visuals. Vista Ridge has the makings of a special season for this program. 

James Bowie will be the band no one mistakes moving onto the field. They’ve revived the inflatable props they used for their WGI world class guard. The show is called Floridly Primordial. The show explores the shapes and colors of microscopic cells. The field changes and evolves so fluidly even with the number of props on the field. If you’re a mellophone fan this is the show for you. The visual palette is incredible for Bowie between the colors, shapes, drill, and guard work. As usual, Bowie execution around their feet is at a high level already. 

Cedar Park opens with a male-singer on the 50 for a wonderfully powerful opening hit. Then, Cedar Park breaks out the accordion as the male-singer turns into the ringmaster for the circus. The front-ensemble has a very nice moment prior to dueling baritones. Cedar Park has some very challenging block drill that will be a visual treat as the season moves along. This show is packed full of “hidden easter eggs” that will take several views to make sure you find everything on the field. Be sure you catch the hobby horse. 

Cedar Ridge opens the show a haunting gypsy singer as the guard is transported onto the field by the props. Then the dark and powerful low brass take control. Then, a clarinet soloist starts a technically challenging woodwind passage accompanied by the guard. The pit does a wonderful job capping off the ending of the movement. French horns climb atop the stage behind the front ensemble during Sabre Dance. Then, the singer again transitions the band to the next movement which is Led Zeppelin.

Hendrickson high school got finals kicked off with their 2018 program Blueprints For Life. The show weaves in and out of the motifs of construction blueprints and how DNA affects how a life form functions. As the show begins, a clarinet soloist opens with Rhapsody In Blues. Then the rest of the band forms a DNA strand and lights up the stands with an opening fanfare. In the second movement, a bass clarinet soloist is featured on the front sideline prior to an impact moment. During this impact, the band drill is mimicking the golden ratio form. Something commonly used in architecture. 

Winston Churchill begins their 2018 program in a single file line spanning 90 yards and uses a woodwind quintet. The opening drill is very simplistic but effective with the linear forms and untimed transitions. The show is inspired by the recent renovations that the school just went through. They use white boards throughout the show that resemble the building materials used as well as the yard lines from the field. This is also a part of the underlying theme of taking something old and reinventing ways to use it. 

Round Rock takes the field with new uniforms based on their classic dragon design and some very intriguing step props. As the preshow begins a lone ballerina takes center stage. Lead by their always strong percussion, Round Rock opens with dark and very aggressive first movement literally chasing the ballerina character around the field. They even spell out the word RUN. As the show progresses into the ballad, the guard begins to introduce very bright colors to a field that had been very void of color following a flute and English horn duet.