The Cross Plains High School Buffalo Band is Class 1A State Champion for the 2025/2026 school year!

The Texas UIL holds a marching band championship tournament every November in San Antonio’s Alamodome Stadium.  In Class 1A only the best 14 bands in the state qualify for the tournament.  In 2023 the Cross Plains Buffalo Band placed 3rd in the state.  In 2024 they improved to 2nd Place.  This year they rose to the #1 spot and claimed the State Champion crown.  Shown above holding the State Champion trophy are (L-R) Josue  Dominguez, Woodwind Captain; Arleth Sanchez, Drum Major; Addy McGowen, Drum Major; and Arianna Watson, Percussion Captain.  (Drum Major Langly Potter is not shown.)

Band Director Jesus Perez is very pleased, of course.  He explained that they engaged Abilene’s  Luke McMillan to write this year’s show.  It was called “Conan the Barbarian,” the classic adventure hero created by Cross Plains native Robert E. Howard.  The show contained three songs:  “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne; “Warrior” by Demi Lovato; and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony Number 4.  Three songs that don’t easily go together!  But it worked. “He (McMillan) does a good job of merging the pop music, the more recent stuff, with the classical music,” said Perez.

The show featured a flute solo by Arleth Sanchez. “It just took a lot of effort,” said Sanchez.  “It was a little nerve wracking with all the people there, but it was fun.”

In addition to the music, the band was also judged on marching.  Perez said “We added more drill this year.  We normally don’t move as much as we did this year, and I think it paid off.”  Drum Major Addy McGowen added “This year we integrated a lot of visuals, so that’s something that is not normal marching.”

The students emphasized that the tournament is always friendly competition.  Arianna Watson, Percussion Captain, commented “After the competition was done, everybody went over to the other bands and congratulated each other.  It was a very good atmosphere again.”

Like any successful venture, this state championship took a lot of work.  McGowen explained “I think more people put in more effort.  Students showed up for after school practices, and just put in a lot of effort… And we changed something up this year.  We had morning practice on Thursdays.  That was a bit of a struggle to make sure everybody was there to rehearse our music.  But once we put in the effort, the music and the marching was nothing!”

The band program in Cross Plains is very popular, as well as successful.  Fifty-six students are in the band, about half of the enrollment in Cross Plains High School.  Josue Dominguez plays the alto saxophone and is the Woodwind Captain in the band:  “It’s just fun to play.  It’s something I am passionate about.  I’m in here just about every day for one or two extra periods when I have the time.”

And the band program is busy throughout the year.  In the fall semester there are football games, the state competition, and an upcoming Christmas show on December 18.  The spring semester includes a Sight Reading contest in March and April, plus the UIL Solo and Ensemble contests.  “We have some students who advanced to State in the last couple of years, and they would like to go back again this year,” said Perez.

Jesus Perez is very humble, but the successful band program begins with him.  “He is a very, very good director,” said Addy McGowen.  “None of this could have been possible without him, Mr. Firenza (Assistant Director), and Mr. Rodriguez, who was here last year.  They do everything.  I can’t even begin to describe all they do, because it’s so much.  We’ve been taught a lot more than just music.”

Perez explained more about this year’s successful show:  “Robert E. Howard is from Cross Plains.  We have a festival every June.  I thought it was a really good time to share with everybody our town’s history and the show that was written for us.  Luke did a great job on that.  Not a lot of people can say they had a show that was related to their town, the way ours did.  I think it really set us apart.  I’m really proud of that.  That was our goal, to make our town proud.”

Yes, the town is proud.  STATE CHAMPIONS!