Total silence. The only thing moving is the wind. 150 plumes flutter in the wind. 150 hearts beat loudly. 150 hopes raised high.

On Nov. 5, the Alamodome reaches far above the heads of the marching band. The intensity of this moment is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Focus, focus, focus.

“Walking onto the field was an intense experience for everyone,” senior Jordan Sandoval said. “No one really knew what to expect because none of us had ever been to a competition of this caliber.”

It’s hard not to be intimidated in this moment. Focus, focus, focus.

The band was established in the fall of 2008, the year the school opened. In the beginning, there were only 38 freshmen in the entire band. Since then, it’s almost quadrupled in size, growing to 150 members.

“I am thankful that I can say that I have been a part of such a large and talented group of people,” Sandoval said. “It’s hard to say goodbye to it all, but I know that the program is in good hands.”

It is indeed in good hands. Director Lee Crochet is in his 17th year of teaching, and he runs the band with the help of thre people: assistant director Brittany Brown, Art Jimenez, who works with percussion, and color guard instructor Cameron Oefinger.

“Mr. Crochet is a really cool teacher, he’s like another parent for me,” junior Alex Bernal said. “Whenever I need him, he’s there. He helps me get through things I can’t do by myself.”

Focus, focus, focus. As the marching band enters the field at Bands of America, everyone is fighting to gain control of their nerves. “Breathe in, breathe out…” is repeated over and over.

“I was hyperventilating,” sophomore Lauren Palmer said. “It’s one of those moments when you have butterflies in your stomach that you can’t control.”

So much hard work has been put toward this performance. It’s the last chance to show the world what the band can do. The hours and hours of rehearsals have left their mark, now all that’s left is to hope it’s enough. Focus, focus, focus.

As the band marches onto the field, heads are cleared, minds fixed on the task at hand. As the first note of the show is played, 150 marchers give it their all.

This is an especially significant performance for the seniors in particular. Not only is it their last marching band performance, but they are the first seniors to leave in the history of the school.

“It was a truly great experience, and I’m so proud of what we have accomplished,” Sandoval said. “It’s hard to believe that this is my last year.”

As the last note of the show is played, 150 breaths are let out. The band exits the field and heads to the stands to wait on results. When they finally arrive, they’re not as good as they could be, but at least 52nd out of 58th is not last.

“We weren’t the best,” freshman Tanner Parker said. “But we definitely improved by increasing our music skills.”

After the performance, the band watches some of the best bands in the state perform.

“Getting to see all those good bands was a huge learning experience for me and for our band,” junior Marc Collier said. “We know what’s expected of us next year.”

Bands of America was a great way to wrap up the season.

“It was so awesome to be able to compete at such a high level contest,” Sandoval said. “It really shows how far we have come as a band program that started with only 38 freshmen.”