For the 21st consecutive year, the Coppell High School Marching Band earned a Division I rating at the Region 20 UIL Marching Band Contest Oct. 15 in Duncanville.

The CHS Band was one of 13 5A bands competing in the annual contest and was one of five bands to earn a Division I rating.

Head CHS band director Scott Mason attributes the long-standing success at CHS to each class of students understanding that only through hard work and determination can they truly be successful.

"A combination of great students, parents and administration allows me to keep the students focused and working toward the top rating every year," Mason said.

While the performance went well at Saturday's contest, Mason said the band will have to improve each and every day after that.

The band will have more changes in its show in the coming weeks as it prepares for its final contest of the year at the Bands of America Super Regional Championships in San Antonio Nov. 5, he said.

"The main focus will continue to be helping our students improve as musicians," he said.

Although this is not a state year for Class 5A, the CHS Band will be competing against some of the most outstanding bands in Texas if not in the U.S., he added.

More than 50 bands will be competing at the BOA contest Nov. 4-5 while 23 bands are scheduled to compete in the Duncanville Marching Invitational Oct. 29 in the Duncanville High School stadium. The CHS Band will perform at 3:45 p.m. in the prelims at the Duncanville contest and will perform at 11:30 a.m. in prelims at the BOA competition Nov. 5.