Mac Band blazed its way to its first finals performance of the 2024 season Saturday night with their show titled “Fury Road.”  The USBands Austin Regional Competition held at the Bob Shelton Stadium in Kyle attracted 22 bands, with 12 qualifying for finals after their preliminary performances.

McCallum earned first place in its division for prelims, with a score of 82, qualifying them for the finals later that night. Along with the preliminary first place finish in its division, Mac Band placed fourth overall and won best in overall visual effects and music.

Just after 9 p.m. the band took to the field in hopes of securing a top three finish. They got what they had hoped for, placing third overall with a score of 83. Additionally, they won best overall music.

Junior bass clarinet player Lucas Walker said he thought the band’s finals performance was strong, one that he felt was worthy of a top three standing.

¨A lot of people were focused in places where usually they would let themselves slip,” Walker said. “I think [the improved focus] led to a more complete performance in a lot of ways. Start to finish the show is truly one of a kind. … There are a lot of great moments within the show, and I think that the members of our band have done a great job learning and adjusting to them.”

Along with the Knights’ musical abilities, recognized with a best overall music award, the show’s choreography, Walker said, adds significant and important details to “Fury Road.”

“There is a lot of choreo in this year’s show that really defines it as a show about life in a wasteland,” he said. “I think that it can really elevate our performance and tonight we did a really good job with the choreo. I’m incredibly excited for the UIL circuit. I think that our ceiling is really anywhere we place it as long as we keep working hard and staying focused.”

Led by director Wilbert Toruno, the color guard are the heavy lifters when it comes to the choreography and visual effects. Toruno said that this focus on visual effects is intentional and well thought out.

“Mr. Junkin and I sat down during the preseason before we approached our design team, to make a point that the color guard is here to make the show come to life,” he said. “We wanted to utilize the guard more for character work and storytelling of the show while letting the creativity of their placement on the field be more three-dimensional than just the typical color guard role in a show of just spinning a piece of equipment.”

During the performance of “Fury Road,” color guard members perform a variety of different movements in order to make the show and its message more compelling. Sets including large structures that color guard members climb onto and choreography like lifting one of the guard members into the air. These elements help make the audience and judges feel more entranced by the performance, Toruno said.

“A comment we received from the color guard judge during our critique at yesterday’s performance was that he was able to ´sit back and just enjoy the color guard spin and perform,’ and forget he was judging,” he said. “As a color guard director, [I feel] that is one of the best types of feedback to get because it shows the color guard is giving a show instead of just being a flag on a field.”

After a long day including two performances, Toruno said he was proud of the band and guard’s efforts and execution throughout the day, especially during finals.

“They pushed through the long hours of the day and gave it their all under those stadium lights last night,” he said. “The guard walked off the field smiling and with their heads held up high because they made a production of their performance and gave the crowd a show. I am extremely proud of all the hard work and determination this group of individuals have and continue to bring to the field every day.”

Junior flute player Harper Wade said that support from directors like Toruno pushes the band and the guard to be their best.

¨During the woodwind feature, I saw our director Mr. Junkin cheer for us after we finished it, so it made my confidence sky rocket in the middle of the run which was really nice,” she said. “The flute section is really strong this year. We have really good camaraderie. It’s honestly a great section to be in.”

Wade was pleased with the results at the end of the night and said it reflected the time and effort that band members have put into the show thus far.

“The band is really striving for success this year, and you can tell in the way that we’re performing,” she said.

Going forward, Wade said she’s focused on this season’s goals but also thinking about the bigger picture.

¨Everybody hopes to make State, but I’m also just hoping that we grow as a band and continue to get better even for years to come,” she said. “I like to see how strong this band is getting, and I think it’s getting better and better every moment.”

Senior drum major Max Davis agrees.

“It’s definitely been getting better,” he said “Even compared to last week, it was much better. I’m really happy with how the run went. Everyone performed really well. I’m really happy with our placement. We moved up a spot from prelims, and we got the best overall music. That’s great.”

Up next, the band will compete at the Region 18 Marching Contest on Oct. 22 at Burger Stadium. Until then they have an opportunity to improve, finish up their fourth movement and continue polishing the show.