Kingwood Mighty Mustang Military Marching Band
KM4B Bands
The Kingwood Mighty Mustang Military Marching Band (KM4B), The Pride of Kingwood, is the 5A varsity marching band for Kingwood High School. The band performs at all football games, and also competes in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Marching Contest, as well as the National Association of Military Marching Bands (NAMMB) competition. Unlike most high school marching bands of today, KM4B marches in strict military style, similar to that of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band. This style of marching is prevalent in smaller East Texas high schools, and is sometimes considered a dying art form. In spite of many schools switching from military marching style to drum corps style, KM4B has kept the tradition and excellence of military marching intact.
KM4B was founded upon the opening of Kingwood High School in 1979 under the leadership of director Linda Tiner, who helped usher in the style of military marching. Her legacy lives on today through the Linda Tiner Scholarship, which is given to the most outstanding senior band student of the year. Over the next few years, the band blossomed, scoring superior ratings at the UIL Marching Contest, and other numerous awards at the annual NAMMB competition. Under some of the finest leadership seen in Texas high school band programs, the band has become known for their commitment to excellence, their powerful sound, and their immaculate marching technique.
The current band is led through the marching season and competitions by its two directors; Head director Destry Balch and assistant director Brittany Peters. These directors are responsible for rehearsing the band during school hours, when the band is divided into four concert bands. During these rehearsals, the directors not only work on the music for the field, but also train the students in fundamentals and basic music skills. After school, the marching band rehearses for two hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays on the practice field in the parking lot.
While the KM4B band performs as one during marching season they are split into four bands to perform at scheduled concerts in the winter and spring while also competing in UIL. The four concert bands are comprised of Wind Ensemble, Symphonic, Concert I & II. Auditions are held in the spring for the coming year with the top chairs going to Wind Ensemble. Many times the bands are asked to perform at additional events. In the spring of 2009 Wind Ensemble was invited and performed at the Dallas Military Ball.
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