The Marion Patriot Pride Marching Band turned in a dominating performance Saturday, sweeping all class and division awards en route to a Grand Championship at the Paragould Marching Invitational.
The full slate of Marion’s awards is as follows:
1st division guard
1st division percussion
1st division Band
Best in class Music
Best in class Visual
Best in class Guard
Best in class Percussion
Best in class Band
Best in class soloist: Mya Harris
Blue division 1st place visual
Blue division 1st place music
Blue division 1st place guard
Blue division 1st place percussion
Blue division Grand Champion
Overall Grand Champion
Eighteen bands from Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi were in attendance. Finishing second behind Marion was Brookland, followed by Greene County Tech in third, and Valley View in fourth.
“Our students have earned every bit of this, and I’m so proud of the way they performed,” said Kristen Shepherd, Marion Director of Bands. “We’re thrilled with the result, but our students know the work isn’t finished. The biggest stretch of the season is here, and I can’t wait to see what they do.”
The band will carry its momentum into the ASBOA Regional Marching Contest on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in Cabot. Then, this weekend, the Patriot Pride travels to Daphne, Ala., for the Eastern Shore Classic. Marion ends its marching season Nov. 4 at the 6A State Marching Contest at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Local fans can catch the band at the Patriots’ final two home football games: Oct. 23 against Sheridan (homecoming) and Nov. 6 against Benton.
This year’s production is titled “La Vie en Rose,” and features a heavy emphasis on the visual and musical symbolism of roses and the color red. Songs featured in the show include “Kiss from a Rose” by Seal, “La Vie en Rose” by Edith Piaf, “A Time for Us” (from “Romeo and Juliet”), “The Red Machine” by Peter Graham, “Red Cape Tango” by Michael Daugherty, and “Every Rose has its Thorn” by Poison.
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.