As Mr. Todd Burke stepped onto the podium, the band began to lift up their instruments to their ready positions. The shining lights of the stage caused the brass instruments to glitter with gold, while some of the woodwinds shimmered with silver. Every player focused on Mr. Burke. When he put up his baton, the band switched to their playing positions. After taking a deep breath, the band played a concert F.

The Jaguar Band will perform their UIL Concert in the Auditorium April 14. 

“UIL is important to the organization for the experience of being put under pressure,” junior Alex Tirado said. “It also gives students under the band organization a way to compete for their craft.”

In the early parts of the school year, COVID-19 caused notable changes in the organization.

“It was different in the sense that not everyone was here this year,” sophomore Destiny Miles said. “This made the experience a little bland than past years.”

In the midst of a pandemic, the sense of normalcy that was there in the past, faded away.

“Due to COVID-19, things that were normally done before have been altered to follow regulations, but the passion behind it never changed,” senior Thomas Edward said.

This virus seemed to also take a toll on the playing of instruments at home.

“COVID-19 has had a real big impact on how I practice throughout the week,” Miles said.

Practice schedules and routines were not as profound as they were before going into the pandemic.

“I will admit that recently I haven’t been practicing as much as I used to in previous years,” Edward said.

Nevertheless, the three bands in the program are pumped up and ready to perform at UIL.

“We’ve put in a lot of work into our three pieces that we’ve chosen to present for UIL,” Tirado said. “We have made great progress since we started.”

Through the many obstacles they have faced throughout the year, the band still remains strong.

“We have had our fair share of good and bad rehearsals, but in the end, I know that we will step up to the plate when the time comes,” Miles said