The Marion Patriot Pride Marching Band capped off a memorable season Wednesday, taking fourth place at the 6A State Marching Contest, held at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
For a school-record third straight year, the band earned a First Division (superior) Rating with a score of 87.8. Marion was less than a point behind third-place Siloam Springs and only 2 points behind 6A state champion Lake Hamilton. The Patriot Pride also earned the highest marks in the contest in the category of Music Ensemble.
With their First Division rating, Marion has the opportunity to qualify for the State Sweepstakes Award if they earn First Division ratings at the State Concert Contest in April.
“Our senior class is the first in the history of Marion to earn a First Division at State,” said Marion Director of Bands Monty Hill. “Our students are amazing and have established themselves as one of the top 6A band programs in Arkansas.”
The complete order of finish is class 6A, and their scores, is as follows:
Lake Hamilton – 89.8
Van Buren – 89.5
Siloam Springs – 88.6
MARION – 87.8
Jonesboro – 85.8
Benton – 83.1
Greenwood – 82.2
Mountain Home – 78.65
West Memphis – 75.3
Sylvan Hills – 75.0
El Dorado – 74.7
Sheridan – 72.2
Wednesday’s contest marks the end of a historically successful marching season for Marion. Over the course of the past several weeks, the band has defeated more than 80 bands competing in competitions across Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama.
The season’s achievements include the following:
On Sept. 27, they earned First Divisions in Color Guard, Percussion, and Band, and took home Best Visuals in Class 6A at the Legacy Marching Invitational in Bryant.
On Oct. 4, they were crowned Grand Champions of the Devil Dog Classic in Morrilton, sweeping First Divisions across the board.
On Oct. 21, they earned straight First Divisions at the Region IV Marching Assessment in Cabot, qualifying for the State Marching Contest for the sixth year in a row.
On Oct. 25, they traveled to Daphne, Ala., where they defeated 23 bands from 5 states to win the Grand Championship at the Eastern Shore Classic.
On Nov. 1, they earned a prestigious Top 8 finish elite Bandmasters Championship at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.
This year’s innovative competition show was titled “Metagalactic,” and included music from “Star Trek,” “Space Mountain,” “Mars Attacks,” “Moon Dance,” and more. Featuring vivid retro-futuristic colors evoking the golden age of science fiction, the Patriot Pride has invited crowds to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations -- and boldly go where no one has gone before!
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.