Congratulations to the Italy Gladiator Regiment Band for advancing to state in the Outstanding Performance Series (OPS) competition for the first time in school history. The band’s march selection, “Omaha Beach,” was one of two marches that advanced from the June 2nd region 8 contest to the area round of competition. The area contest was held in Lubbock on June 17th. In the OPS competition, band submit recordings of individual songs so that is why you may see a school more than one entry. The overall rankings for 1A are as follows:

March (top 2 advance to state)

1. San Saba
2. Italy
3. Valley Mills
4. Somerville
5. Goldthwaite
6. Shiner

Concert (top 3 advance to state)

1. Valley Mills
2. San Saba
3. Shiner
4. Italy
5. Thrall
6. Thrall
7. Valley Mills
8. Hico
9. Goldthwaite

The state OPS hearing will be held Sunday, July 27 during the Texas Bandmasters Association convention in San Antonio.

In addition, the band’s overall concert program has advanced to area in the state Honor Band competition. This is separate from OPS. The area Honor Band hearing will be Thursday, June 26 at Spring High School.