Lion Band Earns Division 1 Rating at Annual Pigskin Music Jubilee

Updated: November 2, 2024

By Mike Villarreal

The Lion Band received a Division 1 rating at the 82nd Annual Pigskin Music Jubilee held at Lions Stadium on Saturday, October 19. Nine schools from Region 28, including 3A and 4A class divisions, performed that evening. The La Feria Lions football team supported the Lion Band at the event. The band always plays music and cheers on the football team under the Friday night lights, and the La Feria ISD appreciates the support from the football team and coaches. As a result of earning a Division I Rating, the Lion Band will compete at the Area competition on Saturday, November 2, in Calallen.

The Pigskin Music Jubilee celebrates music and pageantry that began in 1940. Mr. Hugh Proctor, then superintendent of schools at Mission, originally suggested the idea so that Valley bands could focus attention on their skills and abilities. The first Jubilee was held on December 9, 1940, at the Harlingen High School Athletic field, with Dr. Ernest Poteet as general chairman and nineteen Valley schools participating.

In 1941, the annual Jubilee event took place in Donna, Texas, under the chairmanship of Mr. A.S. Sanders. However, due to the ongoing World War II, the Jubilee was canceled in 1942, 1943, and 1944. It wasn’t until 1945 that the event was reactivated, with Mr. Gene Braught, the band director at McAllen, taking the lead. In the same year, a significant decision was made by the Region Band Association and the Valley Coaches Association to incorporate the recognition of District football players, their parents, and coaches into the Jubilee festivities. This tradition of honoring District football players during the Jubilee continued for several years, leading the event to be known as the Pigskin Music Jubilee.

In 2020, the Annual Pigskin Jubilee Contest in our region had to be canceled due to the unprecedented global pandemic. This marked the first cancellation of the event since 1944, a gap of 76 years. However, in 2021, the UIL Executive Committee decided to revive this historic event, and since then, all participating bands have demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth. Despite the challenges posed by at least one full year of virtual learning, the bands returned to the contest stronger than ever, showcasing their dedication and talent.

The Pigskin Music Jubilee has a rich history. In 1977, due to the growing number of spectators, the event was relocated to the newly built McAllen Memorial Stadium, which has the largest seating capacity in the Valley. In 1993, band participation increased to the point where the marching contest was split into two separate events. The AAA and AAAA band contest occurred at Edcouch-Elsa Stadium, while the AAAAA bands competed at McAllen Stadium.

This format continued until 2002, when the growth in the number of bands led to a reorganization of the Pigskin Marching Contest. In 2002, UIL Region 15 marching bands were divided into zones, with the competition including AAA, AAAA, and AAAAA bands at each zone. The East Zone included bands from Brownsville to Donna, and the West Zone included bands from Alamo to Roma. The East Zone Pigskin Jubilee was held at Donna Stadium, and the West Zone Pigskin Jubilee was held at La Joya Coyote Stadium.

The Pigskin Music Jubilee is part of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) marching band competition. Various band directors have served as Executive Secretaries to the UIL Music Executive Committee, composed of school administrators from the participating school districts, to ensure adherence to UIL’s high competition standards. The entire Rio Grande Valley music community greatly appreciates our former UIL Executive Secretaries for their many years of dedication and service.
Photo La Feria ISD Facebook Page

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