The Marion Patriot Pride Marching Band had another great performance Saturday, competing at the Bandmasters Championship held at Liberty Bowl Stadium in Memphis.
Alongside elite band programs from five states, Marion earned a position in the Top 8 “finals placement” with 7th place out of 23 bands and a First Division rating.
This was the highest placement for Marion at Bandmasters since 2006 when the band earned 8th place.
Marion’s performance brought rave reviews from commentators during the livestream broadcast of the competition
“So much fun, and yet such a serious presentation,” said Barry Trobaugh, a Hall-of-Fame retired band director from Munford, Tenn., one of the event’s commentators. “Just magical -- the colors, and the motion, and those wonderful sounds. The intonation and balance was remarkable. Such a well-put-together show.”
If you missed it, you can catch the band’s performance at this link: Bandmasters
The top 8 bands were:
Bartlett, Tenn.
Arlington, Tenn.
Murray, Ky.
Munford, Tenn.
Clinton, Miss.
Bryant, Ark.
Marion, Ark.
Houston, Tenn.
So far this year, the Patriot Pride Marching Band has defeated more than 60 bands across six competitions. Next up for Marion is a trip this Wednesday (Nov. 5) to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock to compete for the 6A State Title at the Arkansas State Marching Contest.
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.