Sallisaw takes top prize in John Parnell Marching Band Contest

by SOUTHEASTERN PUBLIC INFORMATION
September 30, 2008

DURANT, Okla. -- Sallisaw High School finished first in the final competition in Saturday's 4th annual John Parnell Marching Band Contest held at Southeastern Oklahoma State University's Paul Laird Field.

The competition featured 26 bands from Oklahoma and Texas, which were graded on Music Ensemble and Execution, and Marching and Visual Execution.

Participating bands ranged in size from Class A to 6A.

Sallisaw scored a total of 87.40 points to claim the championship.

Southeastern band director Mike Raleigh said, "We had an estimated 4,500 people attend the contest. It was a great day with many fine high school bands competing. The standing ovation given to the Southeastern band after its performance made it even better."

Finals results: Sallisaw (4A) won the title, followed by Whitesboro, TX (4A), Norman North (6A), Tom Bean, TX (A), Eufaula (2A), Howe, TX (A), Broken Bow (4A), Poteau (4A), Antlers (A), and Ardmore (5A).

Preliminary results: Norman North (6A, 83.80), Sallisaw, Whitesboro, Eufaula, Howe, Tom Bean, Broken Bow, Ardmore, Antlers, Poteau, Whitewright, TX (A), Pottsboro, TX (3A), Bells, TX (A), Kingston (2A), Konawa (A).

Also: Idabel (3A), Tishomingo (A), Pocola (A), Plainview (2A), Lone Grove (3A), Pauls Valley (3A), Lindsay (2A), Western Heights (5A), Coalgate (2A), Hugo (2A), and Atoka (2A).