The band hall sits quietly with the whirring of the air conditioning cooling the space as Mr. Chris Evetts ponders over instrument inventory lists and the Summer agenda for the band. He smiles and says “…what a great year we had!” The work for this year’s 2014-15 group of band students started last July as they arrived for sectionals and later for marching band camp. Band camp is every day from 8 AM to lunch marching outside in the hot Texas heat and from after lunch to 4 PM for inside rehearsal all the way until school starts. The group marched to a ghoulish melody compilation of songs from horror flicks this Fall's marching season. Halloween, this year was a sight to behold as the entire band, including Mr. Evetts, the band director, dressed up as zombies to march for the football game crowd as “dead people”. The Band marched their way into top rankings at the Denton Golden Triangle invitational and at the UIL marching competition. At Christmas, the band leadership group, along with the Woodrow Band Boosters organized it’s second annual toy drive for the Toys for Tots campaign and received several hundred toys from the community during and before their Winter concert. Late February rolled around and the Woodrow Wildcat Band along with Mikey Dino played to a sold out Dean Martin Tribute concert of 450+ people at the Granada Theatre! In the Fall, this group sold nearly $25,000 in chocolate bars, half of which went to help pay their way for a Spring Break trip to Disneyland; the first “big trip” the band has taken in many years! Disneyland trip was a complete success, even with a dip in the ocean at Cocoa Beach and a musical march down Main Street at Disneyland! The Spring concert UIL competition was a first for the Woodrow Wildcat band as they also placed high for their first appearance as a Varsity 5-A Band! The year was not over either as 10 members of the band, including 5 Freshman, made it to the UIL state Finals in Austin earlier in May. Woodrow Wilson High School had not been represented at the UIL State competition in over a decade! The success of this group, not only comes from the dedication of Mr. Chris Evetts, but also the students who work hard to make him proud and the school proud! The Band would like to thank the Woodrow Alumni, the East Dallas community, our local businesses, parents, the student body, the Woodrow Wilson High School staff and administration for their assistance in helping grow this program from 8 members just 4 years ago, to 28 to 51, to 62 and if projections are correct somewhere near 90 for the 2015-16 school year! In about a month, the Woodrow Wilson High School band hall will be quiet no more!