Blinn Buccaneer Marching Band Festival supports area bands as they prepare for UIL competition

La Grange High School earns top honors at 51st annual festival

September 29, 2026

Area high school bands took the field Saturday for the 51st annual Blinn College Buccaneer Marching Festival, gaining valuable performance experience and feedback as they prepare for University Interscholastic League marching competition.

Ten Class A through 4A bands competed for trophies at the annual festival held at Cub Stadium in Brenham. The Brenham High School Band gave an exhibition as an unjudged Class 5A entry.

“We had a lot of great performances,” said Dr. Sarah Burke, Blinn Band Director. “Everybody gets judges’ critiques, and we give out awards to the top bands. It is a great opportunity for these students to perform, receive feedback, and continue developing their shows as they prepare for UIL competition.”

The Blinn College Buccaneer Band also performed during the festival, giving visiting high school musicians an opportunity to see how they can continue participating in marching band at the collegiate level.

La Grange High School was named the festival’s top overall band after placing first in the Class 4A preliminary competition and earning the award for best overall percussion in the preliminaries. Little River-Academy High School placed second overall, was named the outstanding Class 3A band, and received awards for best overall color guard and top soloist, clarinet player Eli Martinez.

For each band, the festival offered a chance to perform before experienced judges prior to University Interscholastic League-sanctioned marching competition.

“Today was really good,” said Elaine Webb, Caldwell High School Band Director. “We came out to get some feedback from the judges. It’s early in the season. We’re about three weeks out from the (UIL) contest, and we’re looking for feedback to see how we’re doing compared to everybody else.

“We’ve never been to state before. Last year was the first time in 13 years we were able to go to the area marching contest, so that was really exciting. Our goal is to make it back to area and hopefully make it to finals this year. They’re doing great and working super-hard.”

Contest judges for the preliminary events were Eric Eakes, Jim Van Zandt, Chris Magonigal, Zach Edwards, and Deanna Keene. Finalist judges were Van Zandt, Magonigal, and Eaks.

The Buccaneer Band is part of Blinn’s acclaimed Music Department, which offers an Associate of Arts degree on the Brenham Campus and a wide range of performance opportunities. Students who enjoyed participating in band in high school can continue performing in college while pursuing virtually any field of study.

Music majors and non-majors alike can participate in band, choir, chamber ensembles, individual performance, composition, and other musical experiences.

Blinn is currently recruiting students to join the Buccaneer Band for the 2027-28 academic year. Audition information and additional details are available at www.blinn.edu/music.

About the Blinn College District

With innovative programs and award-winning co-enrollment partnerships, Blinn’s academic transfer rate ranks No. 1 among Texas community colleges. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.

PHOTO – The La Grange High School Mighty Leopard Marching Band placed first overall at Saturday’s Blinn Buccaneer Marching Festival. The band also won the Class 4A contest and had the best percussion overall in the preliminaries.