As a freshmen, I went to compete in this exact contest with my band and had the joy to watch this exact performance those many years ago. Up until then, I only heard rumors about the legendary Marcus HS and their intense marching band program from the upperclassmen. Seeing what #1 looked and sounded like absolutely floored me.

Even watching this show 9 years later, so clean. Amazing.

Jeremiah, Marcus has a wonderful leader who strives on teaching the band students to respect all bands and band members because the common goal is making great music come to life on the field. As band Parents we cheer for all bands out there performing because we see the hard work, effort, and energy many of you put into your shows. There is Magic on those fields when you all play!

I go to Harlingen high school and I can say gladly that we lost to this amazing band this drill is almost perfect

I am a freshman, this was my first year going to state. When I saw them perform, I couldn't believe how amazing a marching band performed. I thought we were good. But damn they were great, can't wait for next state year!

As an LD Bell band member, it's truly an honor to compete against a band as good as Marcus! I look forward to the upcoming 2013 season!

The guard work is really great, even the double flag work is pretty clean !!

My directors went to the competiton, and they said all the others were impressive but none stuck out like Marcus did. Congrats and i love this show :)

this is my favorite marching band performance

The mark of sheer excellence in this show is the "time factor"! There is so much content, variation, and composition that the show is over MUCH too soon!! Performance levels of this group is off the chart! AND - no, I am not a band parent of a Marcus performer! Actually, I don't even live in Texas... Georgia resident here. And before any interstate bashing, I have also been a judge for over 20 years! This, plus exposure to the programs @Avon, Tarpon Springs, Choctawhatchee, and Lassiter.

Thank you for this excellent recording, the quality was superb! I don't know this band at all but they have a great instructor as the clean lines show. Lovely music and I like shows with a lot of substance over flash! I came from the Lincoln Marching Patriots in Sioux Falls, SD and we have a similar philosophy. Excellent job band and staff!

Actually "Gilded Melodies", not "guilded". Different definition. "Gilded" is just a references gold. The gates, etc. are gold. More an effect/reference majesty of Bach's music than a story to be told. Bach was a royal composer. Also, (and I don't have any idea if Ms. Drinkwater was thinking about this), the gates allude to pipe organ pipes. There is a youtube video of an organist playing this music. When the camera pans up to those 64 ft. pipes, can't help but "see" those gates.Majestic!

I love this show! the first statement of toccata gave me chills! i love being in Area B because i always get to see them and their AMAZING SHOWS!!!! great job guys! ~Martin Hs senior

Marcus' drill for this show was certainly easy, but they were a lot more exposed musically (ex: 1:20 3:59 7:52 8:24), and the fact that they sounded incredibly good musically (and marched the drill cleanly) is what made them stand out. Plus, Marcus could have gotten big-headed and messed up on the drill (I bet that they knew that this was easy drill). But they knew better, and so they marched it as clean as possible.

@ThatBunsGuy Well obviously the judges didn't sleep during the show since you know they won by a margin of 12 POINTS so don't hate appreciate that you got to see one of the best bands in the country

We love all the other bands too you guys are great

All about director expectations. Can't imagine how much time they spend and everyone attitudes.

Not sure how anyone can be bored by watching a super excellent band perform the classics. I guess if they had played Lada Gaga and danced like the Rocketts those "bored people" would have been happy. Marching band is extremely difficult and complicated. While no big fan of Marcus, i recognize the genius of their music program.

I love the show so much, it was hard to learn it but at the end it's all worth it I love my band

Congratulations Marcus Band on your fourth consecutive 5A state marching championship!!! You guys are amazing!!! Keep up the good work!!! :o)

This makes me miss marching band. Truly phenomenal. Great show. I love when they spell out "BACH"

Favorite show this year. I feel honored to have gotten to watch it twice at BOA Super Regionals :)

Member of the Anderson High School Marching Band from Austin, TX. We finished 17th in the State of Texas back in 2010.

I find it kinda of humerus that the people that SHOULD hate the Marcus High School Marching Band (for example Bell, Hebron, Reagan, Woodlands, CTJ, etc) don't. Why??? Because as competitors we see that they put as march hard work and effort into their show as everyone else and what they do is truly amazing. Say what you want but from the field view of that ensemble they sound and look spectacular. I am NOT nor never was a member of Marcus, I was or am a member of one of the bands listed above.

There tone is amazing, they sound like a sit down band. If they had went to BOA in 2012 I'm sure they would have won it all.

Once i watched your show i realized that you guys have the potential and talent to all time champs, congratulations Marcus High School Drum Major of Bel Air High School Big Red Pride Marching Band of El Paso, Texas

amazing opener. but stunning show all around. so clean >_< keep up the good work, marcus!

This is awesome! Greetings from the Czech Republic!

It's so clean, it's like watching an animation of the show...

This show is awesome, I hope we meet at BoA again this year :) -member of the round rock high school marching band

You guys gave an awesome performance, better than ours lol anyway congratulations Bel Air High School Band Member from El Paso, TX Big Red Pride!!

Director is Amanda Drinkwater. She's an amazing director and has a great group of assistants working with her.

i was fooled. absolutely wonderful guys. thumbs up.

Part 1: Tocatta in D minor Part 2: Fugue in D minor Part 3: Air from Orchestral suite No. 3 Part 4: Cello suite No. 5 All by J.S. Bach

I remember competing against these guys at Plano Drumline Competition this year. Their show is awesome

Yes, you're correct. Bell doesn't march freshman, but that's because we're a 3 year high school. And whether Marcus marches them or not, they're still an incredible band! It's an honor to compete against them each year(: Cant wait for this year!

aahh BOA, I remember winning state the first time in 06. that was my senior year. good year for Marcus, seems like they're still doing a good job. Def. glad I was a part of it for all 4 years.

Yes this band sounds great, I just wish their biggest step size wasn't 16 to 5.

Masterful teaching happening there...and the kids are amazing performers. So many good things...kudos to all involved.

I was honored to see my some of my friends at marcus high school's band win the state marching band contest, although I kinda wish midlo made it to state as well

amazing!!! :-) greatings from austria!

Key to their success: hard work...and Amanda Drinkwater.

People need to stop hatin on them their show is really something special people are just drinking that haterade

Out of curiosity, what do top bands such as Marcus, L.D. Bell, and others think of the. Berkner High School band? For the past three years we've always been up there, but never on top. I'm curious to what other bands think of when they see Berkners name. -Junior trumpet player at Berkner

Bell has had it's turn as have many other bands. Marcus parents are the only ones who stand and clap for EVERY band (even Bell) when they compete. How many band parents can say that? And God bless the ones who do, because they understand that ALL bands work hard to get there. No one is going to bend over and kiss anyone's behind. It is likely those who "think" they are the best, generally fall short of being the best.

The music that starts at 4:00 is Fugue, by J.S. Bach

That's just it about musicians. You don't hate your competition unlike in athletics - you respect them and hope they do well (but not too well).

What is the piece with the oboe and English Horn duet called?

I'm from Haltom High and I've despised and envied Marcus for their greatness. I dont hate them. I know how hard they work, but if every top marching 5A school had all that money per student to each get private lessons and equipment, etc... We'd all be pretty spectacular.

ummmm, at BOA SA, Richland was 13th in the visual caption. CT Johnson, 5th. and Marcus tied for 1st.

Brilliant Show

what place did Richland get at BOA? state?

Good eye, MrTfcdude - there is a feature like that in every Marcus show. Watch the 2010 State show to see the flute player thrown into the air.

ya but judges don't care how easy the drill is they look at how clean it is

Does anybody know the name of the music that starts at 4:00 it's so catchy! :)

I would like to see what Grand Nats would look like if every BOA San Antonio and Texas State finalist went. It would be insane.

I got chills

LIKE THAT DRUMLINE. THAT COLORFUCKINGGUARD. FUCK FUCKING BRASS. I cant, Why.

because if you aren't a member of their band program how do you know how much it costs?

My boyfriend is out there! He plays the euphonium!

It would be hilarious of Coppell's and Marcus' band directors were best of friends, although, I wouldn't be surprised...Oh and this show? I loved it. -CHS Band Member

what's it about?

It was close between Marcus and The Woodlands. They are both very good. We'll see what happens next year! The Woodlands is kicking it into high gear!

just checked out Richlands show, no wonder how 5 different set of judges, placed u guys where they did.

Amazing!

I Love this show.. Cried so hard though when NMHS only got alternates I thought our show was pretty hard /: Again i love Marcus.

WOW! Awesome drill! So exquisite and entertaining.

That Tablet is bright, it glared off of that guys head.

See why don't other LD Bell band members show this much respect ! Good Luck in the rest of Marching Season and Love this year's ( 2013) show Bell has...I got to see y'all perform when our football teams met (Irving High School) and I was full of envy lol. Good Luck (:

I don't mean to offend you. Marcus clearly has had the best performance. I personally know one of the judges and he said it was no contest.

I am a Haltom grad and I wanna say that marcus had a good show this year but Haltom 2013 is going to be pretty good

Ask me qestons and I will respond

Can't wait for grand nationals this year

If they perform in a public venue, it's fair game.

Go watch Coppell High School's show. You'll be knocked off your feet. Richard Wagner. No props needed. They have Dedication. Passion. You'll jaw will drop.

whats the name of the song?

Marcus Freshman do get to march. It all depends in the block situation. I'm a freshman and I'm marching this season:)

I was here!!!! WOOP WOOP!!! 20th baby!

* love the show Bell has this year (2013)

Woodlands did pretty good as well.

awesome.

are you a student of this band program?

@kwanzaaburson123 They came in first. Marcus has placed first at the UIL State Contest since 2006.

This was a fantastic show! But to be honest since I have marched in this show and the show from 2 years ago(Illuminaries) I still think the show 2 years ago was better! Congrats Marcus gonna miss y'all!

That two flag colorguard effect is what I'm referring to

I love bands that form a formation like so,but then again its kind of hard to see what they are trying to make.

I was there and Marcuse won!!!!!

PLEASE POST MARCUS 2014 SHOW

wow, bitter, your table for one is now ready!

Hey look it's Marcus :D They won the moment the moment they took a breath...

This show was super complex and very well performed, so I liked it:) I just think that it wasn't exciting or loud enough... but i guess it was because it's a state year.

As a parent of a Marcus band member, I can assure you that the fee is not quite that expensive. Also, there is a fair amount of economic diversity feeding into Marcus. I promise you not all Marcus kids are rich. That is a mistaken belief.

I'm in that band now

bayyysically

but its not just about drill. They sounded like a sit down band and almost all of their sets looked near perfect so they won. Its over and done so why complain?

very nice

@loneWOIVE188 I know people in this band, and Ii don't know who you saw from this band, but these kids are great. And their band director would absolutely chew them out if they started acting like hot shots. They're just like any other high school but they' have much stricter expectations put on them behavior wise. So often they're afraid they come off snobbish when in reality they're just doing what their director told them to do.

Lol exactly why the are champions no fancy props just good music.

like who?

@thatbunsguy and baref frank, tell urselves watever u have to to sleep at night.