"Perpetual Motion" - Ronald Reagan High School (2000), with Mark Chambers (Director of Bands, 1999-2006)

Sketchbook with Daniel Montoya Jr.

In 2019, the Ronald Reagan High School Marching Band from San Antonio, TX won the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional for the third time with a record score of 97.30 winning outstanding visual performance and outstanding general effect with their show, ‘Secret World.’ After bursting onto the scene in 2000, the Reagan Rattler Band has won countless contests & Bands of America Regionals and placed in finals 5 times at the BOA Grand Nationals Championships in Indianapolis, IN., including two second-place finishes and one class AAA championship. The Reagan marching band has also been a consistent UIL State Marching Band finalist since 2004 and was selected to march in the 2018 rose parade in Pasadena, CA, and the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. In 2005 the Reagan Band was the recipient of the prestigious International Sudler Shield. The wind ensemble has also been a consistent TMEA state honor band finalist and was invited to perform at the 2018 Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL. In 1999 Ronald Reagan High School opened, splitting from the nationally-known Winston Churchill High School in the North East Independent School District, and the Ronald Reagan marching band began competing in the year 2000. Their 2000 production featured Smetana Fanfare by Karel Husa, Molto Ritmico & Lento for Brass, from Dance Movements by Philip Sparke, & original music by Mark Higginbotham. On October 7th in San Antonio’s Alamodome, the band placed 3rd in prelims and 3rd in finals at their very first BOA regional. And on November 4th at Alief Stadium in Houston, TX, the Reagan band placed 2nd in prelims winning their first caption in school history, outstanding general effect, and finished in 5th place in finals. Joining me today is Mark Chambers who was the director of bands for Ronald Reagan HS from 1999-2006, where he and his team became arguably the single largest driving force in spearheading a change in sound, visual, aesthetic, flow, design, and theatrics within TX marching band. On this episode of Storybook, we discuss The Ronald Reagan High School's 2000 production, “Perpetual Motion.” --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sketchbookpodcast/support