Pride of Cove named top drumline at Midway Classic
By WENDY SLEDD
For Andrew Nixon, the truth would be told in the judges’ scores. A seasoned band director with more than a decade of experience, Nixon knew he had the district’s reputation for excellence to uphold following longtime CCISD Director of Bands and director Randy Kelly. This weekend, Nixon took the CCHS Pride of Cove Marching Band and Color Guard under his direction to its first competition of the 2015 marching season at the Midway Marching Preview at Panther Stadium at Midway High School in Waco.
The Pride of Cove was the last band to perform in the preliminary round. It was awarded second place at the end of the preliminary round. The final performance took place late into the evening and in the end, the award-wining band and color guard garnered second place in its class and outstanding percussion.
“We’re very pleased with the students’ performance,” Nixon said. “However, there is still progress to be made. I’m looking forward to the upcoming competitions at the Texas Marching Classic at Round Rock and UIL Region 8 Marching Contest at Midway.”
The Pride of Cove’s 2015 marching show, “Gearworks.” is a visual delight based upon the music of the award-winning American composer Aaron Copland and arranged by Stephen Moro. The audience will hear themes beginning with “The Promise of Living” from The Tender Land and excerpts from “Fanfare for the Common Man.” The second movement of “Gearworks” presents a beautiful and majestic arrangement of “Simple Gifts: A Shaker Melody.” The show concludes with themes from Copland’s Third Symphony including Camptown Races and main theme from Lincoln Portrait.
Under the field direction of Drum Majors Joshua Sharbeno, Irving Medina, Gilberto Diaz and Gabriel Nessler, the Pride of Cove’s “GearWorks” is filled with optical and musical appeal. Senior Zakkary Milligan, Lead Snare and Percussion Section Leader was thrilled with the contest results.
“I am unbelievably proud of my section for winning Outstanding Drumline at the Midway Marching Preview,” he said. “We’ve worked so hard and continue to work hard and that trophy is a reminder of it. It really boosted our morale and pushes us to keep improving.”
Nixon was the director of bands at Cypress Ridge High School for 13 years before joining CCISD this year. He is assisted by band directors Tony Chapa, Garrett Tagliabue, Samantha Manuel, Richard Brown, Lawrence Varela-Halbert, and Adam Apolinar.
In the meantime, Irving is looking ahead to the next contest.
“I am very lucky and proud to be leading my peers. This competition showed how much we have grown since beginning in August,” the drum major said. “There is still a lot to work on and I’m excited to see the progress.”
Area schools will go drum to drum and horn to horn in the next marching competition on Saturday at the Texas Marching Classic at Round Rock ISD Stadium. The final marching competition of the 2015 marching season takes place Oct. 17 at the UIL Region 8 Marching Contest at Midway ISD Stadium.