The McCallum marching band took home the 12th place trophy at the 2025 5A UIL Marching Band State Championship, making them one of the 12 best 5A marching bands in the state out of 253 total bands. For the fourth time in McCallum history, and the fourth time under Carol Nelson’s directing, the band made state finals, this year with their show “Gothic Renaissance.” All of their work over months of practice lead up to this final performance, as they succeeded in both prelims and finals of the regional competition, area competition, and finally the state prelims yesterday evening.

— reporting by Wren Vanderford and Julia Copas

The last performance has concluded and results of finals will be announced at approximately 5:45 p.m.

The McCallum band has finished their performance of “Gothic Renaissance” at the finals of the UIL 5A State Marching Contest.

In an interview broadcast on the Alamodome videoboard at the conclusion of their performance, senior drum major Sara Hamlet said she felt the performance went exceptionally well.

“It feel’s amazing. It’s such a privilege to know that this was our final run and it was an amazing final run at that,” Hamlet said.

Hamlet also said that she felt the band’s final part of the performance was her favorite.

“The closure, the jazz run to the end, you just get hit by a wall of sound,” Hamlet said. “It just gives me chills every time, it almost brought tears to my eyes.”

At the conclusion of all of the competing bands’ performances, final placements will be announced at 5:45 p.m.

— reporting by Julia Copas

The Mac Band has taken the field at the Alamodome and is beginning their performance of “Gothic Renaissance” now.

The opening ceremony of the UIL 5A State Marching Contest finals is underway. The McCallum band has just finished warming up and will be moving to the field entrance shortly. The colors were presented by the Robert G. Cole HS JROTC and the national anthem was sung by the choir from Claudia Taylor Johnson HS.

After the opening ceremony, the Aledo HS band will perform its show and then the Mac Band will perform.

After spending the morning rehearsing at Alamo Heights High School, at 12:38 p.m. the Mac Band arrived at the Alamodome and is currently unloading equipment from the trucks.

— reporting by Julia Copas and Sophia Manos