CHRISTIAN FARRIS PHOTOGRAPHY
CTJ 6th at Grand Nats, Wins Award
The Claudia Taylor Johnson Marching Band finished its 2019 season with its best-ever finish at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, scoring 93.25 in finals competition for sixth place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The Grand Nationals trip was the band’s third. CTJ finished in eighth place in 2011 and ninth in 2016.
The band’s preliminary, semifinals and finals performances of its show “The Circle of Life,” were a huge crowd favorite and received multiple standing ovations during finals.
Additionally, CTJ was named the winner of the Bands of America Albert J. Castronovo Esprit de Corps Award, which was announced during retreat. The award recognizes the band that “most exhibits pride, spirit, enthusiasm, friendliness, camaraderie, and unity of purpose for the marching band activity.”
Johnson is the third Texas band to be named the Esprit de Corps winner, joining Marcus in 2013 and Stephen F. Austin in 2004. The award has been presented by BOA since 1978.
The 2019 Grand National champion, with a finals score of 97.125, Vandegrift, marking the first time “The Eagle” — BOA’s Grand National Championship trophy — has gone to a Texas school since The Woodlands in 2013. Avon (Ind.) was second, followed by Hebron.
All six bands in the #TeamTexas contingent, including Leander, Round Rock, and The Woodlands, made the 12-band finalist field. All six bands were also finalists at the BOA San Antonio Super Regional on November 2.
In 2019, Johnson recorded the fifth-highest score in program history (94.325 in Grand National preliminary performance), the seventh-highest score (94.100 in BOA San Antonio finals) and the eighth-highest score (94.025 in Grand Nats semifinals). The preliminary and semifinals scores in Indianapolis were good for fourth place in Class AAAA, one spot ahead of three-time defending Grand National champion Carmel (Ind.) in both sessions.
In October, CTJ was awarded its 12th
consecutive UIL Marching Division I Sweepstakes Award at the Region 12
event at Heroes Stadium.
CTJ’s finals performance at BOA Austin in September was given a score of 84.150, the band’s third-highest score in five trips to the Austin event.
Johnson’s third-place finish was also its 16th top-three placement in 23 BOA events since 2012.
11 Rate TMEA All-State at Johnson
The Claudia Taylor Johnson Band had 11 members earn chairs in the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Bands for 2020 — including four who were first place in the room following Area E auditions.
It was the second year in a row for Johnson having all-state band members in double digits, and the most of any school in NEISD. CTJ had 16 make the all-state band in 2019.
The 11 making TMEA All-State Band for 2020 (an asterisk denotes first in the room):
Sarah Harvey, 12th grade — Eb Clarinet*
Jake Glaser, 10th grade — Bb Clarinet
Brenna Mitchell, 11th grade — Contrabass Clarinet*
Emma Stoddard, 12th grade — Bassoon
Kadence Koehl, 11th grade — Trumpet*
Bruno Zuniga-Hernandez, 12th grade — Trumpet
Eli Canales, 12th grade — Jazz Tenor Trombone
Preston Payne, 11th grade — Classical Tenor Trombone
Dylan Davidson, 11th grade — Bass Trombone
Juan Rangel, 12th grade — Euphonium*
Tommy Brennan, 11th grade — Euphonium
Canales, Zuniga-Hernandez, Glaser, Payne, and Brennan have earned multiple all-state band appearances while at CTJ.