The Marion Patriot Pride Marching Band kicked off its competitive season in style Saturday night, topping 17 other bands from three states for top honors at the Mid-South Marching Classic in Jonesboro.
In addition to being named Grand Champion of the event, Marion also completed a full sweep of the “caption” awards.
“It was a great night for our band, and I am incredibly proud of our kids,” said Marion Director of Bands Monty Hill. “Our students have been working hard for months in preparation for the competitive season. We have high expectations for everything they will accomplish.”
Awards won by the band Saturday night included the following:
- Superior Rated Band
- Best in Class Color Guard
- Best in Class Percussion
- Best in Class Drum Major - Kaden Littlejohn
- Best in Class Band
- Best in Class Soloist - Miller Owen
- Gold Division Outstanding Music
- Gold Division Outstanding Visual
- Gold Division Outstanding General Effect
- Gold Division Outstanding Band
- Most Entertaining Band
- Grand Champion
The overall order of finish was:
- Marion
- Brookland
- Vilonia
- Riverview
- Rivercrest
- Valley View
- Batesville
- Thayer (Missouri)
- Walnut Ridge
- Westview (Tennessee)
- West Memphis
- Nettleton
- Harrisburg
- Mammoth Spring
- Piggott
- Southside (Batesville)
- Corning
- Hoxie
Saturday’s competition marked the beginning of the competitive marching season. Other events on the schedule include the following:
October 15 – The West Memphis Classic (4 p.m. performance time)
October 22 – The ASU Open (8 p.m. performance time)
October 25 – ASBOA Region Marching Assessment – Cabot High School
October 31 – ASBOA State Marching Assessment – War Memorial Stadium – Little Rock
November 5 – US Bands Southern State Championship – Huntsville, Ala.
This year’s show is titled “Galileo, Galileo” and depicts two days in the life of the famous astronomer Galileo from the year 1610. The music includes “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “The Planets,” and “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd.