Fort Gibson Royal Regiment wins State marching competition

A salute to street music helped the Fort Gibson Royal Regiment win the Class 4A State Marching Championship.

The band placed first among 17 marching bands competing Saturday at Edmond Santa Fe High School. The band also placed first among 12 finalists in the competition, presented by Oklahoma Bandmasters Association.

Fort Gibson High Band Director Diania Hopkins said this is the sixth year the band has won the state marching contest in the history of the program. She said the last time was in 2019.

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

The band’s halftime program, “Streets Come Alive,” features several music genres from a variety of locations, Hopkins said.

“It’s how music connects us, no matter where we’re from,” she said.

The performance features a jazzy street vibe from New Orleans. It the on to New York City with Billie Eilish song. The band plays U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name,” and concludes with Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child.”

Checotah High School’s marching band placed fourth in Class 3A at the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association State Contest Saturday.

Twelve bands, including Tahlequah’s and Claremore’s, are to compete in the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association 5A State Marching Contest Oct. 25 at Muskogee’s Rougher Village.

Muskogee’s Rougher Regiment will compete at the OBA 6A State Marching Contest Nov. 1 at Broken Arrow High.