2016 Bands of America Grand National Championships, presented by Yamaha

2016 BOA Grand National Finalist Feature: Cedar Park H.S.

See how the Cedar Park H.S. marching band brings a grocery list of goals to BOA Grand Nationals including a spot in Finals.

Dec 26, 2016 by Michael Gilley

2016 BOA Grand National Finalist Feature: Cedar Park H.S.

As the 2017 Bands of America season is approaching, we take a look back at the bands who made it all the way to the 2016 Grand National Finals.

The Cedar Park H.S. marching band is one of the most successful programs in the state of Texas. In 2016 they made the long journey from Cedar Park (just Northwest of Austin) to Indianapolis with several goals in mind. They wanted captivate audiences with sounds of Halloween, make us laugh at dancing pumpkins, and then capture a spot in finals at Bands of America Grand Nationals.

The Timberwolves did all of them.

"Coming off a state championship last year it's kind of like what can we do to top this off," one Tuba Senior said. "I think that performance just did it."

"Putting it all together" seems like a simple phrase but in the marching arts it can be the most daunting task. Directors spend a lot of late nights trying to figure out ways to make changes, clean up drill, or alter music in such ways that all the moving pieces of a band's show fit together tightly and come together.

For Cedar Park, they rely on a team of directors and a network of musical friends who come in to work with the band of the course of the year. Director Wessels credits his staff and this network for the success of the program.

"[We are] a collective of people from all walks of life coming together and doing something that's just different from anything else," Director Steve Wessels. "There's nothing like music."

So every four years, the Timberwolves layout a set of goals, load up the trucks, pack up their #TeamTexas shirts, and set off on a journey. It seems like every four years there needs to be a spot reserved for Cedar Park in finals because you know that's on their list of goals as well.

And they don't leave goals behind.

UPCOMING 2017 BOA EVENTS:

BOA Austin Regional
BOA San Antonio Super Regional

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