Dateline: October 23, 2003

Bronco Band to compete in area contest

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Bronco Band will take their routine to the Area Marching Competition in Plainview this weekend following a successful performance at last week’s the regional contest.

Clarendon will perform at noon in Plainview’s Bulldog Stadium this Saturday.

Judges were unanimously impressed last Saturday when the Bronco Band took the field at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon. The band received three Division One ratings, a perfect score.

“Your community, parents, and school should be so proud,” wrote judge Tome F. Walters.

The band’s routine includes selections from the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and drew praise for the performance of every section in the group.

“Wonderful balance of instrumentation and well done on exposure of each,” wrote judge Anthony Gibson. “I really enjoyed the show!”

Judge Randy Vaughn was equally complimentary in his comments and also said the band showed “great discipline and teaching.”

But band director Todd Baker said the role he and assistant director Jennifer Willison played was secondary to the kids themselves.

“We’ve got great kids, and that’s the biggest part,” Baker said. “We were very pleased with the behavior of the kids before, during, and after the performance.”

Baker said the character of the Bronco Band showed when one student, Bradley Sell, discovered a wallet containing $81 in a dressing room and immediately turned it in to officials.

“We were very proud of him for doing that.”

This year’s band is the youngest in several years and is comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores. Out of 76 marching members, 34 are freshmen. Baker said the band has eight seniors, who are “really quality kids” and who are providing good leadership for the group.

This week the band is working on improving their musical performance. This is a state-qualifying year for Clarendon, but Baker isn’t looking beyond this weekend just yet.

“We’re not overly hopeful. We’re just trying to do the best we can this Saturday.”