Published: October 21, 2009 09:29 pm      

Hornet band marches to top rating

The Huntsville High School Hornet Military Band has much to toot their horns about their week after receiving a first division rating at the Region 9 UIL Marching Contest Tuesday in Conroe.

“It feels wonderful,” band director Nick Luggerio said Wednesday. “The kids did an amazing job and I am proud of them.”

According to Luggerio, the band received the top rating from all three judges, the only 4A band participating in Tuesday’s contest to do so.

“I haven’t seen the Huntsville band in a long time, but I mean, this is fabulous beyond belief,” judge Randy Vaughn noted. “I am just so impressed. You guys have done your homework and you can flat play and I love the way you sound.”

The band’s region honor allows the 160-member HHS band to compete at the area contest Saturday at Galena Park.

“We will be competing against 13 other bands, from places like Beaumont, Clear Lake and Santa Fe,” Luggerio said. “If we rank among the top two, we will then be able to advance to the state level.”

Bands are only offered the opportunity to advance past the district level on alternating years. The current HHS band has not advanced to state before.

“I think it would be a wonderful thing,” Luggerio said about the possibility of advancing. “I am just really proud.”

The HHS Hornet Military Band qualified for region tryouts two years ago and were one of the top eight bands in the region.

The band won its first sweepstakes award in 28 years during the 2007-08 school year, and repeated that success in 2008-09, earning first division ratings in marching, concert stage and sight-reading contests.