Registration for 2026 Lone Star Preview is full!
If you would like to join our waitlist, please message lonestar@twhsband.org
2) Entry Fee Form: https://www.
Please note: Registrations are not considered complete until the Entry Fee has been received. By completing the Registration Form and remitting an Entry Fee you are securing a position at LSP 2026 and assuring your original Registration Form time will be used for scheduling purposes.
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Lone Star Preview Guidelines
Event Guidelines/Overview
Entries will be accepted via the online registration form beginning April 1st at 8:00 AM CT through 11:59pm August 31, 2026 unless all slots fill prior to that date. The online entry form must be completed in full by the unit director. Entry form and fee must be received by August 31, 2026 for the entry to be valid. The performance schedule will be determined by time stamp of entry beginning NO EARLIER than 8:00am on April 1st, 2026.
Entry Fee: The entry fee for the Lone Star Preview marching band championship is $600 and is payable to TWHS Band Boosters. TWHS Band Boosters will accept payment online or via a school or booster club check, money order, or school purchase order.
Eligibility: Eligibility is open to all high school bands. All participating members must be enrolled at the same high school as full-time students, or at the feeder school of the participating high school. All performers who contribute to the performance must be students. Violation of the eligibility guidelines will result in disqualification.
Classification: Bands are classified by school enrollment, grades 10-12 only. Under our four-class system (same as Bands of America classification):
- Class A is up to 600 students
- Class AA is 601-1325
- Class AAA is 1325-1850
- Class AAAA is 1851 and above
Adjudicators: Judges will be selected from the lists from Bands of America, Drum Corps International, and Winter Guard International. These organizations provide extensive numbers management training for their judges. The panel will be selected from all parts of the country in order to obtain the best possible adjudication team.
Scoring System: The Bands of America scoring system/sheets will be used for this event. It is the position of Bands of America that music is the more important aspect of the performance, with marching as the presentation and visual enhancement of the program. Similarly, more emphasis has been placed on the effectiveness to the audience and to general effect judges, than on fine-line perfection of the performance judges – which may be an aspect to work on for even better effectiveness. Consequently, the weight of the numbers in the Bands of America scoring system places 60% of the value on music and 40% on visual, and at the same time, 60% of the score is within the area of general effect and 40% within the performance area.
The point allotment for the competition is as follows:
20 points* Music Performance (Individual), judged on the field
20 points* Music Performance (Ensemble), judged from the stands
20 points* Visual Performance (Individual), judged from the field
20 points* Visual Performance (Ensemble), judged from the stands
20 points General Effect Visual, judged from the highest point in the stands
40 points General Effect Music, judged from the highest point in the stands
Timing & Penalties Judge
*Averaged
For a copy of this system, contact Bands of America at 1-800-848-BAND or visit the BOA web page at www.musicforall.org. In the event of a tie, the high placement will be awarded to the band with the higher raw score (subtotal before penalties). If, after using this criterion a tie still exists, the highest General Effect total will be used to determine placement. This will only be used to determine Class Champions and finals competition.
Event Registration/Preliminary Performance Info: The event shall be limited to no more than 24 bands. Entries will be accepted via the online entry form beginning April 1st, 2026 at 8:00 AM CT through 11:59 PM August 31, 2026 (or until maximum number of entries has been received). Any entries received prior to April 1st, 2026 at 8:00 AM CT will not be considered for placement until that date. The defending champion will have the option to perform last in the preliminary competition. Entry deadline is August 31, 2026 or once 24 bands have registered, whichever comes first. Band performances will be scheduled at 15-minute intervals.
Preliminary Awards Presentation: At the conclusion of the final preliminary competition, all unit drum majors will mass for class awards and announcement of finalists. Overall preliminary scores will not be announced nor made public until the conclusion of the finals competition. Division ratings will be announced and awards will be given for each classification as follows:
Division Ratings:
I 75 and above
II 60 – 74
III 45 – 59
IV 44 and below
Awards:
1st, 2nd, 3rd in each class
- Outstanding Music Performance in each class (highest average of the 2 music performance scores)
- Outstanding Visual Performance in each class (highest average of the 2 visual performance scores)
- Outstanding General Effect in each class (highest composite score of all three GE scores)
- Outstanding Auxiliary in each Class
- Outstanding Percussion in each Class
Following the announcement of the class placement awards, the top ten scoring bands, regardless of class, will be announced in random order. The finals competition will be void of any classes.
In the event that there is only one band entered in a class, only the 1st-place class placement trophy will be presented.
Finals Event Schedule: Immediately following the announcement of the finalist bands, a meeting for the director or representative of each finalist band will be held in a designated area. Finalist performance order will be determined by a top-6, bottom-6 draw. The top 6 scoring bands will draw for the last 6 performance times and the bottom scoring 6 bands will draw for the first 6 performance times. In the event that a “Class Champion” band does not score high enough to place in the finals competition, that band will have the option to perform in the finals event at either the beginning or conclusion of the finals competition. The finals competition will begin between 7:00 and 7:30p.m.
Finals Awards Presentation: The event will feature a full-band retreat with all finalist bands and Class Champion exhibition bands. Awards will be presented to finalist bands for 1st through 12th, as well as Highest Achievements (same as prelims). At the conclusion of the Finals awards presentation, members will be dismissed to congratulate each other. The champion unit will be offered the option to have the field for a victory performance, once all performers have left the field.
Critique: A judges’ critique session will be available immediately following the Finals Awards presentation for those bands that performed in exhibition or as a finalist during the evening. This will be on a first-come, first served, basis and is optional for the aforementioned bands.
Spectator Tickets: Tickets are available on-line and will be available at the gate.
Online Ticket Prices
Tickets will go on sale at a later date. You will be able to purchase tickets online via this link once they go on sale. Children 5 and under are free, and Parking is included with ticket purchase.
Prelims Only: $20
Finals Only: $25
All Day: $35
At the Gate Ticket Prices
Prelims Only: $25
Finals Only: $30
All Day: $40
More information will be included in your director packet which will be e-mailed to you early in October.
Director/Field/Chaperone Passes: Passes for competing bands may be picked up at Director Check-In when your band arrives at the site. Each band will receive six (6) Director passes and twenty-five (25) field passes, regardless of band size. In addition, each band will receive two (2) Chaperone passes per bus. Additional passes beyond these numbers may be purchased if needed.
Copyright: Any applicable copyright laws for the performance and/or arranging of music for each band’s performance are the sole responsibility of each participating unit.
Performance Specifics
Warm Up: Your prelim warm-up times will be included in your final packet which will be emailed in early October. A front ensemble warm-up area will be provided near the stadium. Bands may not practice or warm up within earshot or visual vicinity of the stadium. If your band chooses to warm up, it must be in the designated area. Report time to the stadium will be 10 minutes prior to your scheduled performance time.
Performance Area Surface (of the stadium floor): The performance field will be a regulation size football field with end zones and including the area from out-of-bounds lines on the ends to fifteen (15) feet in front of the front side line (360 feet long) and from the out-of-bounds lines on the ends to the back limit of the field surface, normally the back grandstand or wall. Entrance of the band proper may not be over the front sideline. Performers presetting equipment in the front (pit) may enter from the front.
Performance Times: Once your band enters the performance area, you will have a four (4) minute maximum prep time for set-up and warm-up (placement of props/equipment must take place during this time). This time will begin at the cue of the Timing & Penalties judge. Once your band appears to be ready, or at three (3) minutes and 30 seconds, the announcer will introduce your band. Once the drum majors hear their names, they are to immediately salute and set to begin the performance. The first note of music or the first step-off by a member of the band proper will start the timing of your show and must occur within 30 seconds from the conclusion of the announcement introducing your band. Each band is allowed a performance time of 7 to 11 minutes. This timing will begin at the conclusion of the four (4)-minute set-up/warm-up time. Following completion of your show, your band will have two (2) minutes to vacate the performance area (outside/clear of the goal line), which will be the conclusion of your 15-minute block. All props and equipment must be totally removed from the Performance Area within four (4) minutes following the end of the band’s performance.
Penalties: These are at the discretion of the Timing & Penalties Judge/Contest Director:
- Time requirements: 0.1 point per 3 seconds or fraction thereof
- Delay of Contest: 0.5 point per minute or fraction thereof
- Warm-up Areas: 2.0 points (for using unauthorized area/time for warm-up)
- Boundary: 0.1 point per flagrant infraction
Electronics: All electronically produced music must be “live” and played in “real time” by a student. No “prerecorded or sequenced” music, whether instrumental or vocal may be used. The use of sounds other than music, such as narration or sound effects, may be prerecorded and used without penalty. Electronic units are allowed if they are self-powered. If power is available at the site, it may be used at the unit’s own risk. Neither The Woodlands High School Band nor the Conroe Independent School District takes responsibility for supplying any band’s electrical and electronic needs.
For More Information, contact:
-Event Chairperson-
Lone Star Preview
lonestar@twhsband.org