In just a week, marching season will be in full swing for area high school bands. High school students and directors have been preparing since the end of the 2021-2022 school year for Marching Season. Over the summer, students have attended band camps, practiced their instruments at home, and worked on marching fundamentals at summer practices. As we look forward to the coming season, here is a quick preview of what each band has been working on and is preparing for the season. Our 2022 Friday Night Feature schedule is at the end of the article.
The Pride of Alma High School Band
The Pride of Alma is preparing for another marching season. After a 4th Place finish at State, The Pride looks to grow off of last season's success. The Alma Band will premier their halftime show on August 23rd at Home.
Production Title: The Otherside of Ordinary
Music Selection: "Mad World"
"Ordinary World"
Marching Contests: Region VIII Marching Assessment and State Marching Championship
2021 Accolades: 1st Division Rating at Region Assessment, 1st Division Rating at State, 4th Place in 5A State Championship
Number of Students:
Classification: 5A
Booneville High School Bearcat Marching Band
The Booneville Band is gearing up for takeoff this Marching Season. After placing 3rd in 3A at the State Marching Contest, the band hopes to continue their progress into this season. You can catch the Booneville Band at their first performance on September 2nd at Home.
Production Title: Of Steel and Stone - King Arthur Legend
Music Selection: "In the Stone", "The Gauntlet", and "First Knight-Promise Me"
Marching Contests: Region VIII Marching Assessment and State Marching Championship
2021 Accolades: 2nd Division Rating at Region Assessment, 3rd Place 3A State Championship
Number of Students: 52 members, 9th - 12th grade
Classification: 3A
Cedarville High School Pirated Marching Band
This year the Cedarville High School Pirate Band plans to continue their excellence. The band is coming off a Division 2 at Region Marching Assessment. This year Cedarville will be under the direction of Michelle Lankford and Michael Parker. Catch the Cedarville Band’s first performance on September 9th at Mountainburg. Their first home performance will be September 16th.
Waiting to hear back from the Band Program
Production Title:
Music Selection:
Marching Contests: Region VIII Marching Assessment
2021 Accolades: 2nd Division Rating at Region Assessment,
Number of Students:
Classification: 3A
Charleston High School Tiger Marching Band
The Charleston Band is setting up for another great marching season. Charleston received a Second Division rating last season at the Region Marching Assessment. Mike Mankins will be joining Joshua Uhrich as director this year. The Charleston Band will be debuting their show on September 16th at home.
Production Title: Bond! 2022
Music Selection: "James Bond Theme", "For Your Eyes Only", "Goldfinger", "Die Another Day", and "Live and Let Die"
Marching Contests: Dale Bumpers, Bulldog Invitational, and Region VIII Marching Assessment
2021 Accolades: 2nd Division Rating at Region Assessment
Number of Students: 45 members, 9th - 12th grade
Classification: 3A
Fort Smith Northside Grizzly Marching Band
The Northside Grizzly Band is ready for another year of tradition and excellence. Last season, the Grizzlies earned First Division at the Region Assessment. You can catch the Grizzly Band at Home as they debut their show September 2nd at Greenwood.
Production Title: The Art of Animation
Music Selection: "When You Wish Upon A Star", "Theme from Cars", "The Glory Days", "We Don't Talk About Bruno", and music from Beauty and the Beast and Fantasia
Marching Contests: Region VIII Marching Assessment
2021 Accolades: 1st Division Rating at Region Assessment
Number of Students: 210 members, 10th - 12th grade
Classification: 7A
Fort Smith Southside Maverick Marching Band
The Maverick Band is under new direction this year. Ralph Brody comes to Southside with years of experience in Music. Last season, Southside earned First Division at the Region Marching Assessment. The Mavericks will be debuting their show for the first time on September 2nd.
Production Title: Elvis
Music Selection: "Falling in Love with You," "Burning Love," and "See See Rider"
Marching Contests: Region VIII Marching Assessment
2021 Accolades: 1st Division Rating at Region Assessment
Number of Students: 117 members, 10th - 12th grade
Classification: 7A
Greenwood High School Bulldog Marching Band
The Greenwood Bulldog Band is excited about the upcoming marching season. Having received a 1st Division at the Region Marching Assessment and placing 5th in 6A State, Greenwood hopes to improve this season. Greenwood will premier their show on September 2nd at Home against FS Northside.
Production Title: Scrumdiddlyumptious
Music Selection: "Pure Imagination" by Gene Wilder
and other music from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Marching Contests: Region VIII Marching Assessment and State Marching Championship
2021 Accolades: 1st Division Rating at Region Assessment, 6th Place in 6A State Championship
Number of Students: 149 members, 9th - 12th grade
Classification: 6A
Hackett Hornet Marching Band
The Hackett Band is coming off yet again another successful season. In 2021, the Band placed 2nd overall at The Bulldog Marching Invitational, received a 1st Division Rating at Regional Marching Assessment, and placed 8th overall in the 3A State Championship. The Hackett Band will be debuting their show on September 2nd at Home.
Waiting to hear back from the Band Program
Production Title:
Music Selection:
Marching Contests: Region VIII Marching Assessment and State Marching Championship
2021 Accolades: 1st Division Rating at Region Assessment,
Number of Students:
Classification: 3A
Lavaca Golden Arrow Marching Band
The Lavaca Band has been hard at work this summer. After receiving a 2nd Division rating at Region Marching Assessment, Lavaca hopes to continue growing this season. You can catch the first performance of the Lavaca Band on August 30th at home.
Production Title: Air Show
Music Selection: "Danger Zone", "Fly like an Eagle", and "In the Air Tonight"
Marching Contests: Dale Bumpers and Region VIII Marching Assessment
2021 Accolades: 2nd Division Rating at Region Assessment
Number of Students: 65 members, 9th - 12th grade
Classification: 3A
Magazine High School Marching Band
Last year the Magazine Band performed the iconic music of the Beatles. The show had the crowd groovin’ like it was 1964. This year, Magazine’s show theme is “Football”. I cannot wait to see how the band brings this show to the field. The first performance for the Magazine Band will be August 26th at home.
Production Title: Football
Music Selection: "Handclap", "Sound of Silence", and "New Rules"
Marching Contests: Region VIII Marching Assessment
2021 Accolades: 2nd Division Rating at Region Assessment
Number of Students: 13 members, 8th - 12th grade
Classification: 2A
Mansfield High School Tiger Marching Band
The Mansfield Band will be under the direction of Mr Bryce Langley. I personally am excited to see what is to come from the Mansfield Band this year. You can catch the Mansfield Band’s show premiere on August 26th at Magazine.
Production Title: Marvel/DC United
Music Selection: "Superman Theme", "Captain America March", "Batman/Ironman Mash Up", and "The Avengers Theme"
Marching Contests: Dale Bumpers, Bulldog Invitational, Region VIII Marching Assessment, and Iron Horse Classic
2021 Accolades:
Number of Students: 20 members, 9th - 12th grade
Classification: 3A
Mountainburg High School Band of Dragons
The Mountainburg Band is ready for another great season. The Mountainburg Band will kick off their season on August 30th at Lavaca. Their first home game will be on September 9th against Cedarville.
Production Title: At The Movies
Music Selection: "Goldfinger/James Bond", "Batman", and "E.T."
Marching Contests: Bulldog Invitational and Region VIII Marching Assessment
2021 Accolades: 2nd Division Rating at Region Assessment
Number of Students: 32 members, 9th - 12th grade
Classification: 2A
Ozark High School Hillbilly Marching Band
The Ozark Band is in their third year under the direction of Ryan LaFleur. Last year they placed 9th in 4A State but they hope to improve this season. You can catch the Ozark Band on September 2nd at Home.
Production Title: Thor's Hammer
Music Selection: I "Asgard", II. "Mjolnir", III. "Odin", and IV. "Battle/Frost Giants"
Marching Contests: Dale Bumpers, Bulldog Invitational, Region VIII Marching Assessment, and State Marching Championship
2021 Accolades: 1st Division Rating at Region Assessment
Number of Students: 45 members, 9th - 12th grade
Classification: 4A
Paris High School Eagle Marching Band
After placing 5th at State, the Paris Band is ready for another great season. The band will perform their show on September 2nd at Waldron. Their first home performance will be September 9th.
Waiting to hear back from the Band Program
Production Title:
Music Selection:
Marching Contests: Region VIII Marching Assessment and State Marching Championship
2021 Accolades: 2nd Division Rating at Region Assessment,
Number of Students:
Classification: 3A
Van Buren Pointer Pride Marching Band
The Van Buren Pointer Pride Band has been hard at work this summer. The two-time 7A and current two-time 6A State Marching Champions are preparing to defend their title again this season. Lake Hamilton and Siloam Springs are also looking to capture that 6A State Championship. It will be a close competition this year, so keep an eye on how things play out this season. Van Buren will debut their show on August 23rd at Alma. Their first home performance will be September 16th.
Production Title: Project X
Music Selection: Featuring Music by Richard Strauss, Radiohead, Igor Stravinsky, and David Bowie
Marching Contests: Region VIII Marching Assessment and State Marching Championship
2021 Accolades: 1st Division Rating at Region Assessment, 6A State Champions, 1st Division Rating at State, High Visual in 6A State Championship, High Music in 6A State Championship
Number of Students: 154 members, 9th - 12th grade
Classification: 6A
Waldron High School Bulldog Marching Band
The Waldron Band is coming off a great season. Their show Greats of Motown, excited the crowd last season. This year they plan to build off that success with an Out of This World Show. The Bulldog Band will start their season on August 26th at home.
Production Title: Out of This World
Music Selection: "Fly Me To The Moon", "Ain't No Sunshine/Moondance", and "Rocketman"
Marching Contests: Dale Bumpers, Bulldog Invitational, and Region VIII Marching Assessment
2021 Accolades: 1st Division Rating at Region Assessment
Number of Students: 34 members, 9th - 12th grade
Classification: 4A
2022 Friday Night Feature - 5 Year Anniversary
Week 1
Aug 23rd - Van Buren @ Alma
August 26th - Paris @ Waldron
Week 2
September 2nd - Ozark @ Booneville
Week 3
September 9th - Cedarville @ Mountainburg
Week 4
September 16th - Waldron @ Mansfield
Week 5
September 23rd - Van Buren @ Greenwood
Week 6
September 30th - FS Southside HOME
October 1st - Dale Bumpers Marching Contest
Charleston, Arkansas
Week 7
October 7th - Mountainburg @ Magazine
October 8th - Bulldog Marching Invitational
Waldron, Arkansas
October 11th - Region VIII Marching Assessment
Northside High School - Fort Smith, Arkansas
Week 8
October 14th - Hackett @ Charleston
Week 9
October 21st - Alma HOME
Week 10
October 28th - Booneville @ Lavaca
October 31st & November 1st - State Marching Championship
Little Rock, Arkansas
Week 11
November 4 - FS Northside HOME
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