The LTHS band won second place at the Plano East Marching Invitational on October 12 for their performance of RAIN, which used props for the first time to enhance their performance. Poteet HS placed first and Sachse HS third. LTHS band also won: Outstanding Visual, Outstanding Color Guard, and the Jon Davies Memorial Outstanding Award, which junior drum major Lauren McCord is most proud of.

“I’m most proud of it because it recognizes our program as one that respects and supports other bands, which is a characteristic highly valued at LT,” McCord said.

When it was announced the band won second place, senior drum major Joshua Crossman “felt really good about it.”

“We performed well as did the first-place performers, but ultimately it felt good knowing it’ll get better from here on out,” Crossman said. “That contest was an encouragement, and the improvements we’re making across all aspects of the show are amazing to see.”

McCord said that she felt re-energized and ready to keep pushing forward once they found out they got second.

“Getting second place was exactly what the band needed to prove to ourselves that our efforts are paying off,” McCord said, “and since we advanced in placements, we were clearly able to see that we’re capable of achieving much more than anticipated if we simply focus.”

It takes more effort than people think to march on time and play at the same time because of how sound travels across the field. One side of the field can be playing one part of the music while the other side a different part.

“I think we worked really hard to listen to each other and watch a drum major and just stay on time with each other,” freshman performer Kristen Royer said.

Since the band used their raindrop props for the first time, McCord felt that the props contributed to increased energy on the field, leading to a more attention-demanding performance.

“At our first competition, Wylie Marching Invitational, we received comments from judges that hinted the need for more general effects in our show, so putting the props out on the field at PEMI motivated the band to improve visually,” McCord said.

Crossman felt that props can be a distraction to the performers, but not for the LT band.

“Props can be a distraction,” Crossman said,” but our band members are super professional and they pushed to perform even better, and the props highlight just how exceptional our band really is.”