The “Pride of Olney” High School Marching band performs during halftime of last Friday’s football game against  Chico.

“Pride of Olney” to perform at regionals

Members of the Olney High School Band have been busy competing in marching festivals this month in order to prepare for the Region marching competition.

Wichita Falls Marching Festival was held Monday, Oct. 3 at Memorial Stadium. It was a “critique-only” festival and not a competition. Judges for the festival included Jim McDaniel, retired director of fine arts from Frisco ISD, Bill Centera, director of bands for the Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy and Keith Bearden, retired director of the Texas Tech ‘Goin’ Band’.

Other festivals the Pride of Olney High School performed in included the First Annual Don Hanna Memorial Marching Festival, hosted by Denton Guyer at the C. H. Collins Athletic Complex in Denton on Oct. 8.

The band won a “Best in Class” trophy for outstanding 2A band. Judges for the competition included Steve Andre, director of fine arts Mesquite ISD (visual), Joe Dolkos, retired from Weatherford ISD (music), Glenn Lambert, director of fine arts for Wylie ISD (visual), Pete Tolhuizen, retired from Plano ISD (music), Daryl Trent, retired from Frisco ISD (music). The band members also competed later that afternoon at the Ponder Invitational Festival. The Pride of Olney placed 11th of 20 bands, missing the finals by four-tenths of a point. The band received a “Best in Class” award for the outstanding 2A band.

Judges for the Ponder Festival included music judges William Owens (marching), John Odom (music), Jack Wilds (music), Adam Nichols (percussion), Dee Russell (drum majors), and Kaylenn Henderson (auxiliary).

The Pride of Olney High School Band will perform in the UIL Region 7 North Zone Marching Contest on Saturday, October 22 at 10:45 a.m. inside Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls. 

The contest begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 5 p.m. 

Admission for the contest is $5 for adults, $3 for children.