Pearland High School’s “Pride of Pearland” Marching Band placed seventh as they represented Pearland Independent School District for the first time in the Bands of America Grand National Championships held on November 9-11 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. PHS’s marching band performed a production titled “Illuminate”.

“Seeing the students’ commitment and tenacity throughout all the levels of the competition was awe-inspiring,” Pearland ISD Fine Arts Director Tom Bell said. “I am so incredibly proud of their talent and of the results they achieved placing seventh in the nation. This is no easy feat, and it is an achievement that our entire community is proud of.”

The three-day preliminary, semi-finals and finals event brought together 93 bands from across the nation to show off their talent. Competing bands received recorded evaluation from panels of leading educators and marching experts, along with written scoresheets. Forty-five bands performed in each of the two separate preliminary contests, balanced with like numbers of bands from each class. Thirty bands advanced to the semi-finals with a formula that ensured inclusion of representatives of each of the four classes and the top scoring bands from the two separate preliminary contests and the overall event.

Pride of Pearland performed under the leadership of director Ryan Demkovich, assistant directors Aaron Gantt, Jordan Barker and Clayton Jasper (Percussion) and Color Guard Director Jacoby Taylor.