Published: October 26, 2009 03:38 pm      

MHS band earns honors

The Pride of McAlester Marching Band and Color Guard from McAlester High School has marched away with state-wide honors for the group’s half-time show.

Members of the group won third in preliminary competition for Class 5A schools to advance to the finals of the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association competition held at Tulsa Union High School on Saturday.

They won fifth in the state during the finals that evening, which included bands from both 4A and 5A schools, said Pride of McAlester Band Director David Steidley.

The Pride of McAlester Marching Band has 122 members, who share in the trophy award, along with the Color Guard.

“All of the directors were very proud of the Pride of McAlester Marching Band and Color Guard,” Steidley said.

The group’s half-time program, called “Earth, Water and Fire,” combined visuals with music, to represent the elements.

Bands placing ahead of McAlester, in order of first through fourth, were from Bixby, Coweta, Piedmont and Sallisaw.

McAlester, in fifth place, was followed by Collinsville, Shawnee, Fort Gibson, Duncan, Carl Albert High School, Muldrow and Duncan.

The Pride of McAlester will next compete on Wednesday in competition sponsored by the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Association which will be held in Broken Arrow, Steidley said.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.