United Independent School District is celebrating an outstanding weekend for its marching band programs following the 2026 Bands of America South Texas Regional, held September 19 in McAllen, Texas. Both United High School and John B. Alexander High School delivered impressive performances, representing United ISD and the Laredo community with exceptional musicianship and pride.

Alexander High School made history by capturing its second consecutive regional championship, while the United High School Band advanced to finals, securing a seventh-place finish in a highly competitive field.

The John B. Alexander High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble and Dazzler Elite Dance Company swept the preliminary round, earning Outstanding Music, Outstanding Visual, and Outstanding General Effect honors in their division. In the final round, Alexander maintained its dominance by taking home the Outstanding Music Performance and Outstanding General Effect awards on its way to claiming the overall title.

This win marks the first time Alexander has secured back-to-back championships, expanding its South Texas Regional title record to four total wins (2019, 2022, 2025, and 2026).

John B. Alexander High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble and Dazzler Elite Dance Company celebrate their win.

“This historic achievement represents far more than a trophy. It is the result of countless hours of preparation, sacrifice, discipline, and the collective effort of an entire school community,” said AHS Director of Bands Ricardo Fuentes.

The United High School Band also achieved a major milestone by advancing to the final round and climbing to seventh place overall.

"Performing second out of 24 bands in prelims is always a tough draw, but our kids set a bar that held up for hours,” shared UHS Director of Bands Samuel Hjort. The band’s visual ensemble score remained unbeaten until the 18th band took the field, while its music ensemble placed fourth overall in preliminaries.

“To go on early again in finals and still surge from tenth to seventh place speaks volumes about the grit and sheer quality of this performance,” Hjort added. “Competing early in the season with a challenging show that we are still tweaking, we are excited to see where the rest of the season takes us.”

United looks to build on this momentum as the program prepares for the Area contest on October 31.

Outstanding performance on the field by United High School.

“The achievements of both programs reflect the countless hours of rehearsal, commitment, and teamwork that go into a successful marching season,” said UISD Director of Fine Arts Joshua Martinez. “Behind every performance are dedicated students, directors, instructional staff, administrators, and families working together toward a common goal.”

“These accomplishments are a tremendous source of pride for our entire United ISD family. Our students continue to show what is possible through hard work and passion,” said UISD Superintendent Dr. Gerardo Cruz. “Congratulations to the talented musicians, performers, and directors at Alexander and United High School for representing our district and the Laredo community so well. We are very proud of you and look forward to seeing all our bands continue to shine this season.”

The celebration of marching band excellence continues on Saturday, October 3, as United ISD hosts its annual UISD Marching Festival at the Bill Johnson Student Activity Complex. The district invites families, alumni, and the entire Laredo community to purchase tickets , fill the stadium, and support area student musicians.

Congratulations to United and Alexander High School on their remarkable achievements, and best wishes to all UISD bands as their competitive seasons continue!