For a decade my kids have gotten creamed at Region auditions. As much as everyone says that's the way to make great players and thus a great band, that system fails us.

We are a solid 2A earning UIL 1st divisions on a regular basis but we have 2 (sometimes one) director going up against 3A's (or 4A's depending how a student is tracked) with 3 to 5 directors. We simply cannot compete. Time and again my best kids get destroyed, come home with their heads dropped and tails between their legs then they give up on the activity (sometimes quitting band entirely) despite my efforts "teach them through loss."

Don't read this as sour grapes with ugly tone, just a pragmatic, factual statement. I am done with All Region auditions. It is bad for our program.

What might be other options?