Marching Knights open season with a bang
The Prospect High School Marching Knights took first place honors among a field of 25 Midwest bands at the 33rd annual Lancer Joust Marching Band Competition at Lake Park High School on Sept. 9.
The PMK placed first among 10 finalists, receiving the overall highest score. Prospect also was honored with all three of the competition’s “best” awards: general effect, music and visual.
In the preliminaries competition, the Knights also placed first for its class (AAA), and received all five honors for outstanding achievement: in music performance; visual performance; general effect; percussion and auxiliary. This year’s show, entitled “Leonardo’s Dream,” features music from Eric Whitacre and Malcolm Arnold.
In addition to Prospect, two more District 214 bands — John Hersey High School and Wheeling High School — were top five finalists and finished 4th and 5th respectively. Lincoln Way East High School, of south suburban Frankfort, and Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park were awarded 2nd and 3rd place in finals, respectively.
The Lake Park Lancer Joust was the Knights’ first competition of the season.
“I’m so very proud of the PMK and all of the hard work we have put in so far this season,” said Destiny Duraj, one of the band’s three drum majors. “Accepting the awards at prelims filled me with pride for my school. This was a great start to our season and everyone is excited for the weeks to come.”
The PMK 2011 competition season includes travel to the prestigious Bands of America Super Regional competition on Nov. 5 in Indianapolis. Before that, however, the Knights will defend their Grand Champion status at the Illini Marching Band festival on Saturday, Oct. 22 at the University of Illinois, Champaign. The Marching Knights have won the Illini Festival a record 28 times.
The Knights will host their own marching band festival, the 16th “Knight of Champions,” from 2:30-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at Gattas Memorial Stadium at Prospect High School, 801 W. Kensington Road, Mount Prospect. Twenty-four Midwest marching bands will compete for top honors while the Knights will perform an exhibition of their award-winning show. For information on participating bands, schedule and festival tickets, visit the Knights at www.prospectband.com.