The Vandegrift Band and Vision Dance Company will perform at the area marching contest this Saturday at Gupton Stadium. The band advanced to area after getting a score of 1 at the region contest held last Saturday.

“Region wasn’t a perfect performance, but I could definitely tell that we have matured in some way,” bassoonist Hannah Davidson said. “We just understood how everything worked [in the performance at regions], it went from people going “oh okay we have to do good, to oh my gosh this is the real deal.’”

The band’s motto is “defying the standards,” reminding them to push themselves to be the best.

“For me defying the standards is something that the band lives around,” trumpet player Keely Freund said. “Whether we subconsciously think about it or not, it’s something we have, it’s like I know everyone else is going to work hard, therefore I will work hard. As a band we will take everything to the next level, therefore defying the standard.”

There is no ranking at regional or area only scores from 1-5, one being the best and five being the worst, but until someone wins state, they are still the best band in Texas.

“I think we did a excellent show at region,” bass-trombonist Zach Burky said. “Of course I think there is work to do, but the more work we do, the better we will be. I think we have a real shot at area and making it onto state.”