Everything’s coming up roses for the Patriot Pride Marching Band this fall as the award-winning ensemble prepares to kick off its 2026 competitive season.
This year’s production is titled “La Vie en Rose,” and will feature a heavy emphasis on the visual and musical symbolism of roses and the color red. Songs featured in the show include the following:
“Kiss from a Rose” by Seal
“La Vie en Rose” by Edith Piaf
“A Time for Us” (from “Romeo and Juliet”)
“The Red Machine” by Peter Graham
“Red Cape Tango” by Michael Daugherty
“Every Rose has its Thorn” by Poison
“We couldn't be more excited to take the field this fall with ‘La Vie en Rose’,” said Kristen Shepherd, Marion School District Director of Bands. “Our students have been putting in incredible hours since day one of summer camp, pouring so much passion and energy into every single detail of this show. Their dedication is paying off, and we can’t wait for our families and fans to see all their hard work come to life under the Friday night lights.”
Patriot fans will get their first glimpse of the Marion band Friday night (Sept. 11), as the band takes the field for the Patriots home football opener against Conway. The band will again perform at every home game this fall.
The first competition for the Patriot Pride will be on Saturday, Sept. 26, when the band travels to Olive Branch, Miss., for the Conquistador Classic. That will be followed by the Power Band Classic on Oct. 10 at Lake Hamilton. The next weekend, Oct. 17, will find the band in Paragould for the annual McDonald’s Marching Invitational, which will be followed by the ASBOA Region Marching Contest on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in Cabot. On Oct. 24, the band will head south to compete at the Eastern Shore Classic in Daphne, Ala., and then wrap up its season Nov. 2-4 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock for the 6A State Marching Contest.
A total of 140 students will be marching with the Patriot Pride Marching Band this season. On Friday, Sept. 25, that number will swell to 223, when 83 MJHS 8th graders join the band for a “mass band” performance during the home football game.
The Marion School District is an innovative and growing district that ensures an equitable, engaging learning community where every student is empowered to achieve academic excellence and personal growth. With more than 150 years of experience serving families in Crittenden County, the district offers a high school, a junior high, a seventh grade academy, and three award-winning magnet schools. For enrollment information, including information on school choice, visit https://www.msd3.org/ or call 870-739-5100.