For the third year in a row, the Marion Patriot Pride Marching Band was crowned Grand Champion of the Mid-South Classic, held Saturday at Jonesboro High School.
In addition to being named Grand Champion, Marion earned Best-in-Class awards for Color Guard, Percussion, and Drum Major, and awards for Best Music and Best Visuals in its Division. Kayden Harris was also named best soloist.
Marion had the top overall score out of the out of the 16 bands competing and was the only band to earn a superior rating.
“Our students shined like never before at the Mid-South Classic and are to be commended for this outstanding accomplishment,” said Marion Director of Bands Monty Hill.
The “three-peat” at the Mid-South Classic is the beginning of what stands to be a tremendous marching contest season. Up next for the Marion Patriot Pride Marching Band is the US Band’s Ark-La-Miss Championship, to be held on Saturday (October 12) at West Monroe High School in Monroe, La.
The over rankings of bands from the Mid-South Classic are as follows:
MARION
North Pontotoc, Miss.
Rivercrest
Pocahontas
Batesville
Searcy
Valley View
West View, Tenn.
West Memphis
Southside
Gosnell
Harrisburg
Obion County, Tenn.
Corning
Walnut Ridge
Piggott
This fall, Marion is fielding its largest band in school history, with 160 members in its competition band and 180 student musicians taking the field for halftime performances on Friday nights. The theme for this year’s competition show is “Riveting.” The show pays homage to “Rosie the Riveter” and all of the women who supplied America’s war effort during World War II.
The complete schedule of upcoming competitions is as follows:
October 12 – Ark-La-Tex Championship, Monroe, La.
October 19 – Eastern Shore Classic, Daphne, Ala.
October 21 – ASBOA Region Assessment, Paragould
October 26 – McDonald’s Marching Invitational, Paragould
November 6 – ASBOA State Marching Contest
November 9 – US Bands Southeast Championship, Huntsville, Ala.
The Marion School District is an innovative and growing district that ensures an equitable, engaging learning community where every student is empowered to achieve academic excellence and personal growth. With more than 150 years of experience serving families in Crittenden County, the district offers a high school, a junior high, a seventh grade academy, and three award-winning magnet schools. For enrollment information, including information on school choice, visit https://www.msd3.org/ or call 870-739-5100.