Rio Rancho, Cleveland high schools take home top marching band titles

RIO RANCHO — The Cleveland and Rio Rancho high school marching bands have bragging rights at the conclusion of their musical competition season.

Both schools competed in the New Mexico State Marching Band Contest Oct. 25, with Cleveland earning first place and Rio Rancho coming in second, a reversal of placement from last year for the schools. The contest was a homecoming of sorts, as it was played at RRHS.

The state competition was just one of several others both schools participated in, earning them high praise from Rio Rancho Public Schools in a Facebook post.

“Congratulations to both schools — your talent, dedication, and teamwork make our community proud!” RRPS stated.

Daniel Holmes — the director of bands at Cleveland who was awarded the New Mexico Music Educators Association Music Educator of the Year in September — attributed his students’ performance to the group’s “strong work ethic.”

“They were able to score well because they performed such a challenging production at a high level,” Holmes said.

The state competition also saw Cleveland win the “High Music, High Visual Effect, and High Percussion” award.

The fact that RRHS marching band placed high during a major competition on its home turf was enough to make Daniel Sault proud to be the high school’s latest director of bands.

“It was at our school — we hosted it — and so I think the kids really want to have a good show when it’s their stadium and their venue, so I think they worked hard for that,” Sault said.

The schools rounded out their marching band seasons at other competitions.

Cleveland won the Grand Champion title Nov. 1 during Tournament of the Bands, hosted by New Mexico State University. It was only the second time in 10 years a state high school earned the honor, according to the school district.

“They are so excited with how they played, they were literally celebrating and cheering on the field,” Holmes said. “A handful of the judges commented on that afterwards, ‘This is super cool to see how you guys play.’”

Meanwhile, RRHS came in second place at the Zia Marching Band Fiesta, which also occurred Nov. 1, at the University of New Mexico.

“After getting second at the state marching contest, they just wanted to push through to the end and have a good season all the way,” Sault said.

Zia also saw RRHS earn the Best Percussion award, he added.

“(The award) definitely speaks highly of the program,” Sault said. “It’s special for the kids to see their work pay off.”