SHS Band, Choir & Orchestra win Academic State Titles

 


STILLWATER, Okla. – Stillwater High School’s Performing Arts Department continues to be recognized as one of the best in Oklahoma, both on the stage and in the classroom.  The Band, Choir, and Orchestra programs recently demonstrated this, with all three being honored as Oklahoma State Academic Champions for 2025.

 

This is the eleventh year both Band and Orchestra have been honored as state champions, and the fourth time Choir has received this distinction. SHS Principal, Walter Howell, recently presented all three programs with their championship trophies.

 

“Our students prove every day that artistic excellence and academic success go hand in hand,” said Kevin Zamborsky, Director of Bands for Stillwater Public Schools. “Winning academic state championships in all three programs this year is a testament to the students’ hard work and the support of our dedicated faculty, our performing arts families, and the community.”

 

Research consistently shows a strong correlation between participation in performing arts and academic success. Students engaged in music and the arts often demonstrate higher GPAs, stronger problem-solving skills, and greater persistence in school.

 

“At Stillwater High School, the connection between success in the classroom and participation in the performing arts is evident,” Zamborsky added. “Members of the band, choir, and orchestra are not only performing at high levels in state and regional competitions, but also excelling academically.”

 

With these latest honors, Stillwater High School continues to build on its legacy of academic excellence in performing arts and athletics. Since the award began in 1992, SHS has won at least one academic state championship every year. Additionally, Stillwater has won more academic state titles in athletics and performing arts than any other 6A high school in Oklahoma.

 

To learn more about SHS Performing Arts and to see upcoming events visit stillwaterschools.com/arts. Donations can be made to the program by visiting stillwaterbands.org and selecting the Stillwater Band Boosters page.


Popular posts from this blog

First in Class; Stillwater & Perkins marching bands earn top honors

Image
  EDMOND, Okla. –  For the second year in a row, the Stillwater Pioneer Marching Band and the Perkins-Tryon Midnight Regiment took home top honors for their respective classes at the Deer Creek Invitational.   The Pioneer Marching Band’s 2025 show, entitled, “Bach in the Saddle,” earned first place honors in Class AA during the afternoon’s preliminary competition when bands compete with each other based on the size of their high school.  The Midnight Regiment also earned top class honors, finishing first in Class A for their show, entitled, “Masters of the Keys.”   Both bands were selected as finalists at the competition, where the top twelve bands, regardless of school size, perform in the evening competition. In finals performance, Stillwater placed second overall and Perkins-Tryon placed sixth. The Midnight Regiment also earned Fan Favorite honors.  Edmond Santa Fe High School took home first place overall.   “Our band has a large number of undercl...
Read more

SHS Band competes at Mustang Invitational; hosts 8th Grade Night

Image
MUSTANG, Okla. – The Stillwater High School Pioneer Marching Band competed in their second contest of the season this past Saturday, when they took the field at the Mustang Marching Invitational. In the afternoon’s preliminary competition, when bands compete against each other based on Bands of America classifications, the Pioneer Marching Band took home third place in Class AA, and qualified for Finals, where the top 12 bands compete regardless of classification.   In finals performance, their show, entitled, “Bach in the Saddle,” earned an 8 th place overall finish. The band was able to improve on their afternoon performance, and placed higher overall in Finals than the two Class AA bands that had outscored SHS in the afternoon competition.   “After preliminary results were announced, I told our students that our overall placement and score was not as important to me as them improving from one performance to the next,” said Stillwater Public Schools Director of B...
Read more

"Bach in the Saddle” – Pioneer Marching Band preparing for upcoming season

Image
  STILLWATER, Okla.  – Featuring one of the largest marching bands in school history, the Stillwater High School Pioneer Marching Band is hard at work preparing for the 2025 marching season. Band Camp began on July 28 th  and the band will host a free community performance on Thursday, August 7 th  at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Stadium to officially kick off the marching season.   The Pioneer Marching Band is coming off a successful 2024 marching season earning bronze medal honors in Class 6A-2 and being named a state finalist at the Oklahoma Bandmasters State Championship. The band also earned State Academic Champions in Class 6A for the eleventh time in program history.   This year’s show, entitled, “Bach in the Saddle,” will feature the music of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as more recent western style music to complete the theme.   “We are excited to give the community and our supporters a first glimpse of our show at the community p...
Read more