Band sweeps competition

The Port Aransas High School band won the sweepstakes trophy at the University Interscholastic League (UIL) competition held at Sinton High School on Wednesday, April 4.

The competition included 61 students from Port Aransas.

The Marlin band received the honor by earning a first division rating in both concert and sight-reading. It was the only band to accomplish the feat in the Class A division.

A first division rating signifies a "superior" performance.

In the concert competition, the band plays three prepared selections from a UIL-approved list. In the sight-reading competition, the band performs a selection that it has never seen, and the director is given seven minutes to instruct the band before performing the composition.

Band director Jim Cole said he was particularly proud that not only did the band win the sweepstakes, but chose to prepare and perform music from the Class 3A list.

Sam Marks and Judy Cole assisted Cole with the band competition.