Pioneer Marching Band finishes second in 6A2 at state
The band capped a season that began with more than 200 students at band camp and its first season in the new high school
The Stillwater High School Pioneer Marching Band finished second in Class 6A2 at the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association 6A state marching championships Saturday, Oct. 31, at Broken Arrow Memorial Stadium in Broken Arrow, Okla.
The Pioneers' show, "Celestial Lights," scored 76.575 in preliminary competition, where bands compete for placement in either Class 6A1 or Class 6A2, according to a news release from the Stillwater Band Boosters.
The finish moves the band up one spot from last year, when it earned the bronze medal in Class 6A2 at the state championships, also held in Broken Arrow.
Choctaw won the Class 6A2 title with a score of 81.450, according to the official contest recap. Stillwater finished 0.975 points ahead of third-place Bartlesville. Broken Arrow won Class 6A1 with 94.350, the top score among the 19 bands that competed.
| Band | Place | Music performance | Visual performance | General effect | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choctaw | 1 | 16.225 | 15.825 | 49.400 | 81.450 |
| Stillwater | 2 | 15.500 | 15.675 | 45.400 | 76.575 |
| Bartlesville | 3 | 15.050 | 14.850 | 45.700 | 75.600 |
| Piedmont | 4 | 14.900 | 14.400 | 44.300 | 73.600 |
| Muskogee | 5 | 14.200 | 14.750 | 43.500 | 72.450 |
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Heavy rain in the Tulsa area throughout the day led organizers to cancel the evening finals, which would have featured the top 12 bands regardless of class, according to the release. Stillwater was originally scheduled to perform at 3:30 p.m., but multiple rain delays kept the band from taking the field until after 9:30 p.m.
"Our students persevered through difficult conditions throughout the day, and honestly the entire season," Kevin Zamborsky, director of bands for Stillwater Public Schools, said in a statement released by the Stillwater Band Boosters. "I am very proud of the progress our band made this year and finishing second in class at OBA."
The state contest capped a season that began in July, when more than 200 students reported for band camp, a roster the boosters said may be the largest in school history. It was also the band's first season based in the performing arts wing of the new Stillwater High School.
"Celestial Lights" features music by Ryan George, Eric Whitacre and John Mackey and was designed visually to evoke the northern lights.
In September, the Pioneers won Class AA in the preliminary round of the Deer Creek Marching Invitational in Edmond, competing under Bands of America classifications that group schools by size. The band went on to place third overall in the evening finals, which Southmoore won.
The band recognized its 28 seniors at Stillwater's home football game Friday, Nov. 6.
"With the majority of our band being in the sophomore and freshmen classes, the leadership our seniors provided this season was vital," Zamborsky said in the release. "Our entire program is very thankful for these seniors and their families for their commitment to the program."
The Pioneer Marching Band is directed by Zamborsky, Sean Gartner, Tricia Bailey-Bovenschen, Megan Perkins, Katie Genevro, and color guard director Veronica Brewer.
Although contest season is over, the band will continue to perform at Pioneer football playoff games, including the quarterfinal round Friday, Nov. 20, at Pioneer Stadium. The band will also march in the Stillwater Holiday Parade of Lights, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3.
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