With a show that celebrated the power of street music, the Fort Gibson Royal Regiment claimed top honors at the Class 4A State Marching Championship on Saturday.

The band earned first place among 17 competitors at Edmond Santa Fe High School, then went on to secure the top spot again in the final round of 12, hosted by the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association.

According to Band Director Diania Hopkins, this marks the sixth time in school history that Fort Gibson has captured the state marching title—their first win since 2019.

“They just excel at such a high level; they really are spectacular,” Hopkins said. “We also won High Music and General Effect.”

The winning field show, titled “Streets Come Alive,” takes the audience on a musical journey through vibrant city sounds and styles.

“It’s about how music connects us, no matter where we’re from,” Hopkins explained.

The performance opens with the jazzy rhythms of New Orleans, shifts to a modern New York energy with a Billie Eilish song, builds with U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name,” and closes gracefully with Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child.”

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Other Area Bands Advance

Checotah High School’s marching band earned fourth place in Class 3A at Saturday’s state contest.

Meanwhile, Tahlequah and Claremore bands will compete in the OBA 5A State Marching Contest on Oct. 25 at Muskogee’s Rougher Village.

The Muskogee Rougher Regiment is set to perform at the OBA 6A State Championship on Nov. 1 at Broken Arrow High School.