Pioneer Marching Band earns state finalist honors

 


Broken Arrow, Okla. – The Stillwater High School Pioneer Marching Band capped off their 2024 marching season with a record-setting performance of their show, entitled “Bloom” at the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association State Marching Championships.

 

The Pioneer Marching Band earned a score of 80.90, to place third in Class 6A-2 and named a state finalist, one of the top twelve bands in all of Class 6A, for the fifth time in the last six OBA marching competitions. Their score represented the highest known marching competition score in Stillwater Band history.

 

The band ends their season after winning their class at the Deer Creek Invitational and Mustang Marching Invitational, and scored three of their top five highest scores in program history at the Renegade Review and OBA.

 

“While I am excited for our students to achieve such high scores, I am most proud that they showed improvement throughout the season and had their best performance of the season at OBA.” said Kevin Zamborsky, Stillwater Public Schools Director of Bands.  “I also want to thank our incredible team of directors and design staff who helped bring this show to life. I am excited for the future of our program.”

 

Due to rain in the forecast, the OBA State Marching Championships adjusted their format to just one round, instead of two rounds featuring preliminary and finals performances. Southmoore High School won the Class 6A-2 state championships, while host school Broken Arrow was awarded the Class 6A state title and the Grand Champions award for the 22nd consecutive year.

 

The Pioneer Marching Band will march one final time this year at the Downtown Stillwater Parade of Lights on Thursday, Dec. 5, as well as supporting the Pioneer football team during the playoffs and basketball teams at select home games.  But attention for the band now turns to concert season, with the Stillwater High School Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble hosting their annual Holiday Concert on Thursday, Dec. 12, at the SHS Performing Arts Center. The SHS Winter Guard will also begin auditions and clinics for their upcoming competition season.

 

“While it's always sad to end competition season for marching band and the end of a successful show, we are excited to move into concert and winter guard seasons with our students.” added Zamborsky.

 

The Pioneer Marching Band is a regular finalist in state and regional marching competitions. Stillwater is the reigning bronze medalist at the Oklahoma Bandmasters Associations state championship and was the state academic champion in 2023. The band is under the direction of Kevin Zamborsky, Tricia Bailey-Bovenschen, Megan Perkins, KG Robinson, Katie Genevro and color guard director Darin Williams. Learn more about the Stillwater Public School Band Program at stillwaterbands.org.





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