People crowd around watching the FMHS Band competition, and varsity band floutist, freshman Hannah Mulholland’s excitement builds inside of her.

The competition band participated in a performance October 12 in Conroe, Texas. Twenty-five other bands competed in the preliminary competition, and the top 10 scoring bands will advance to finals competition, October 19. The band received sixth place and will compete in the finals.

“I’m always nervous at competitions,” assistant band director Christopher Evans said. “I am not afraid that the students can’t do something, but because I want everything to go as planned.”

The competition show is called FloModern.  The band performed pieces composed by John Phillip Sousa, Steve Reich, and John Adams, who are all minimalist composers, meaning they use a lot of repetition in their music.

“The pieces they played are very different musical styles, and yet they complement each other because both are very transparent in their sound,” Evans said.

Once school started, the students rehearsed two hours a day to prepare for the competitions and perform Friday Friday night football games.

“If I could change anything about the band, it would be the practice schedule,” Hannah said. “It’s tiring and takes a lot of hours after school, but it’s the only way we will get better.”

“I am proud of my students,” Evans said. “There are 240 students in the competition band, and all of the students brought their A-game last Saturday, and I’m sure they will in the next competition, too.”