Drum Major Robert Guindangen conducts the Mighty Brahma Marching Band during practice last week. The Mighty Brahma Marching Band kept its lengthy streak of first divisions - which has spanned about four decades - intact when band members performed at the University Interscholastic Leagues Region IV contest in Alice this past Saturday.

“It was a very solid performance, probably our strongest of the year, it is developing nicely as we go along,” Assistant Band Director Porifirio Mendez said. “The goal is to continually have every performance get better and Saturday was no exception.”

H.M. King will now compete against 26 high schools (from Regions 11, 14, 15 & 28) at the U.I.L. Area G contest to acquire one of five berths to the state marching contest which will be held at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Nov. 3. H.M. King has rehearsed its show ‘Visions and Dreams’ through several practices - which began in the summer - and six halftime performances this season.

The Brahma band will perform in the preliminary round at 4:45 p.m. Ten ensembles will advance to the final round and five will punch their ticket to state.

“The competition will come from as far north as the lower quadrants of San Antonio and all the way down to the valley in Brownsville,” Mendez said. “It also encompasses a big chunk of Laredo and the competition is now pretty stiff as we have a couple of bands in this area who have made the finals before so it is now the elite bands from the area going at it.”

Marching bands are only allowed to advance past region every other year; 4A and 2A schools are eligible this year but not next. H.M. King last advanced to state marching contest in 2007 when they placed sixteenth while performing ‘Exodus’.

This year’s senior and junior class musicians have the 2007 experience under their belts.

“Just the fact that they know what it takes to get here, they know what it is like to go through prelims and finals, helps us a lot,” Mendez said. “They are very excited to get that rush and experience of walking into the Alamodome or as we say ‘The Big Show’.”

Assisting Mendez and Head Band Director Rolando Molina are Ray Mendez, Mae-Trevino Mendez, Eli Lopez and Student Teacher Raul Reyes.

Conducting the band on the field are drum majors Robert Guindangen, Ariel Ramirez and Samantha Cantu.

In their history, the Brahma Band has been to area 14 times and have advanced to state 11 times.