Austin students win contest days after bandmate dies

MySA.com: "Just two days after their bandmate collapsed during practice in Phoenix and died of a heart attack, Austin's Bowie High School Band won the Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship in Arizona. The 280-member band edged Homestead High School of Fort Wayne, Ind., for the win Thursday. The students felt strongly about staying in the competition, hoping that their best effort would pay tribute to sophomore xylophonist Robert Michael Plumlee, Principal Kent Ewing said. 'These are awesome kids,' he said. 'They are very excited. It's very emotional also at this point.'"