The M.B. Lamar Middle School Mighty Lion Band Honors Winds continues its tradition of excellence, as they have been selected to advance to the TMEA Honor Band State Level during the Area G Hearing Competition that took place last week in San Antonio. The Lamar Lion Band was one of the three bands selected to advance to state and was ranked First at the Area Level, becoming Area G Champions.
There were 10 bands at the Area Level covering the geographical area from San Antonio to Brownsville in their classification. The Mighty Lion Band will represent Laredo ISD, the City of Laredo, and Area G at the State Level. M.B. Lamar Middle School’s Band is the only middle school band representing Laredo at the State level.
“The Mighty Lion Band started the Honor Band process during the spring preparing for this competition. The selections that the band prepared are Grade 5 Literature, which is a level that a High School Varsity prepares,” said San Juanita Rodriguez, Lamar Middle School Band Director. “The recording must be a Live Recording for three selections from a live concert. The recordings get submitted and the competition process begins at the Region Level.”
The State Rankings will he held on July 19, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas at Reagan H.S. for the semi-finals going head-to-head against the top 23 bands in the State of Texas. The top 10 State Bands will then continue to the State Finals on July 20, 2023, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center for the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
The Band that attains 1st Place at the State Level, will perform a concert in February 2024, at the Texas Music Educators Convention, Lila Cockrell Theatre in San Antonio, Texas in front of thousands of music educators across the state.
“Nothing is done by oneself. It takes a group effort, a village to achieve great things and these individuals are the reason for this success,” said Rodriguez. “We would like to thank our wonderful Laredo ISD Administration, Dr. Sylvia G. Rios, LISD Superintendent, LISD Board of Trustees, Lamar Middle School Principal, Dr. Eduardo E. Lopez, Lamar Middle School Administration and Lamar Faculty and Staff. We would also like to extend our gratitude to VMT Principal Mr. Angel Ramos, The VMT Band Staff, and The J.W. Nixon H.S. Band for all their help and support throughout the years.”
“To our band parents, band students, and band directors, thank you for all the hard work and for all the sacrifices. Hard work does pay off and the outcome and benefits of this is priceless and superb. This will stay with them forever and you will live a life of excellence from this point on,” said Rodriguez. “We are extremely proud of our band students. From this moment on, these students’ lives will be different. They will be able to do anything they dream. There is no limit to what they can achieve in life. This is what we learn in our Mighty Lion Band Program. As we say, “Better and better every day in every way!” “The Legacy Continues!” Hardwork and Dedication!”
The award-winning Lamar Middle School Band has over 425 members in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. The Band is under the direction of San Juanita (Janie) Rodriguez and Associate Directors Esteban Borjas III, and Fabian Reyes. Lamar Middle School principal is Mr. Eduardo Lopez.