The Mineola Sound of the Swarm high school marching band is the area marching champion.

It’s become a familiar refrain as the Yellowjacket ensemble has claimed that title for seven contest years in a row, dating back to their first one in 2015.

Mineola will once again return to the Alamodome in San Antonio to seek a fifth state marching championship and seventh medal in seven tries.

They earned the area title again on Saturday at Whitehouse, where Quitman and Winnsboro also advanced to the final round but just missed out on one of the five state berths, with Winnsboro sixth and Quitman seventh.

The Quitman Proud Blue Band has placed seventh in the past three area contests, in one of the toughest areas in the state, with those advancing to state qualifying as perennial finalists.

The state contest will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Mineola previously won state in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2024, with a bronze medal in its first try in 2015 and a silver medal in 2023.

State contests for Conference 3A bands were held in odd numbered years until 2024, when the contest returned to an annual affair.

Some 24 bands will compete at state in 3A this year. Mineola will march in the preliminaries at 1:30 p.m., the final band in the day’s second of three sessions. Bands will perform from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., with an exhibition by the University of Houston at 4 p.m. and announcement of finalists at 4:15.

Ten bands will advance to the finals, which will get underway at 7:15 p.m. with the last band performing at 9:30.

Announcement of the winners is scheduled for 10 p.m.