BROOKINGS – The Brookings Bobcat Show Band took several awards home this past weekend, traveling to the annual Pursuit of Excellence band competition last Saturday at the SMSU campus in Marshall, Minnesota.
The bands’ combined scores gained them the highest honor out of all the attending bands in the Navy Class, which is bands with under 100 winds and field percussion not including color guard, drum majors or front concert percussion sections.
The band took Best Music and Best General Effect honors along with a hard-earned Top-Placing Field Percussion Drumline award out of all 23 bands, including the top two classes.
“This was a huge win for the band program and speaks directly of the hard-working character and determination of our band students,” director Ron Stary said. “One favorite moment of the evening was sharing the score of 91 with the drumline. The other was having an incredible rehearsal beforehand with all the students. They wanted it, and they earned it.
“This group has improved each rehearsal, each performance, and student leadership has really stepped up as we round the corner into our competition season these next five weekends,” Stary added.
On Friday night, the homecoming football game was a chance for the community to see the full 2019 field show, “El Barrio.” The band also performed its traditional pre-game entrance before the National Anthem.
Today the band represents the community of Brookings in Luverne, Minnesota, at the 79th annual Tri-State Band Festival at 3 p.m. and in Brandon at the Big Sioux Review band contest at Brandon Valley High School at 9:15 p.m.
On Oct. 5, the band will march in the SDSU Hobo Day parade and at the region’s toughest competition at Festival of Bands USA at Sioux Falls' Howard Wood Stadium at 2:30 p.m. with the goal to make the finals for the eighth year in a row.
On Oct. 19, the band travels to the USD Dakotadome for the Quad-State field competition. The band will try to improve its standing amongst the eight attending bands in Class AAA competition.
“It promises to be a great show this year. The quality of bands and entertaining shows in our class are up this year,” Stary said.
Boosters, parents, alumni, students and friends of the band have been an incredible force of support this year, sitting together at competitions under the Bobcat flag, creating some fun chants as the band enters the field, and cheering throughout the performance, he added.
The band will perform at the Veterans Day program, Nov. 11, and at the indoor marching show at Jostad Gym Nov. 12.
