Big Spring will compete in the Class 4A area contest at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, while Forsan will compete at the Class 1A area contest at Dick Bivins Field in Amarillo. The “Best Band Herd” of Stanton High School will march in the Class 2A area contest at Lowery Field in Lubbock.

The three bands earned spots in the area round of UIL competition by all earning Division I ratings — the top scores available — from the judges in regional contests last weekend.

“The kids put on a very good, very exciting show,” BSHS Band Director Rocky Harris said. “The kids are coming together very, very well. They’re coming together as a group, and they want to be competitive at the area contest, so they’re working very hard this week.”

And already tough Class 4A area was toughened even more with the addition of Fort Worth-area schools to the mix, Harris said.

“Our goal is to make the top 10 in area preliminaries,” he said. “The top 10 bands in the prelims advance to the final round to see who goes to state. If we make the finals, we’ll let the chips fall where they may after that.”

Big Spring is scheduled to perform at 2 p.m. Saturday, Harris said.

Forsan Director Jim Rhodes is trying to marshal his group to a return trip to the state marching contest, where the group finished second in 2005.

“This year, the kids have really stepped up and are performing to their capabilities,” Rhodes said. “This never gets old. I’m excited for them every time they have success.”

Forsan will be the first band competing at the Class 1A Area Contest in Amarillo, taking the field at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

Stanton High School’s band, meanwhile, will be one of the final Class 2A bands to take the field at the area contest, performing at 3 p.m., school officials said.

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331, ext. 234 or by e-mail at