By: Katie Parr
The Ponca City High School Band attended their first contest of the season, the Moore Outdoor Music Festival, on Saturday, September 20. The band placed in the top six out of 13 performing bands during prelims with their show Forever Young. After their prelims performance, students and staff attended a clinic with one of the contest judges, where they reviewed video of their performance and received feedback on how to improve their marching show.
Earning a spot in the top-six bracket gave the band a later contest draw time in finals, closer to other top-scoring bands. The band drew the final performance slot of the evening, giving them the chance to play for the fullest audience of the day. In finals, the band placed sixth overall out of 13 bands.
Connor Pratt, Director of Bands for PCPS, said, “I am beyond proud of how hard the students have worked preparing for this contest. Their consistent dedication and grit paid off in real time on Saturday when the band followed their routine of doing what they do consistently and to the best of their abilities. We gained valuable insight from our experience with the clinician after prelims, and students were able to immediately put that feedback into practice for their finals performance. It was a bit of luck that we were chosen for the final draw time of finals, but it proved to be such an incredible experience for us. Getting to perform last gave the students a full stadium of audience members and other bands cheering them on. This is a great place to be for our first contest of the season. We are looking forward to preparing for future contests and performances for our Wildcats at the upcoming varsity football games.”
Paula Cochran, PCPS Director of Instrumental Music, added, “Saturday was a remarkable day for our band program. Mr. Pratt’s work ethic is above reproach as he leads our band students through marching season. Our students have worked so hard for hours to achieve the goals set for them. Seeing them place sixth in finals brought tears to my eyes. Even more impressive than their performance was their behavior. They represented Ponca City with pride and purpose. We received countless comments about their positive attitudes and character as they pushed themselves through this seventeen-hour day. Thank you to our Instrumental Music Parents Booster for chaperoning and feeding us all day long. We could not do what we do without you!”
The band will attend the Yukon Invitational Marching Contest on Saturday, September 27, where they will once again represent Ponca City in competition
