Staff Report

The Pineville Independent High School Band finished in the top-10 during the state marching band championship in Bowling Green.

PHS finished 10th out of the 16 bands earning the honor of advancing to the state finals competition.

This marked the eighth consecutive time the band qualified for the state championship.

Pineville was the smallest competing school in the state, according to band director Sheldon House. The band competed in the Class A division, which is determined by the size of the school.

“This is a great accomplishment for such a young ensemble,” said House. “We are excited about the future.”

According to House, the ensemble is made up of nearly 50 percent middle school children. There is only one senior and only one junior in the band.

Though happy with the performance, House stated he felt the band could have put on a better performance.

He said the group has learned many life lessons from the experience.He said the band learned how to deal with both success and defeat.

The state championship was the end of a long road for the band this year. The journey started at the state regional quarterfinals on Oct. 20 at Madison Southern High School. The team finished fifth in the competition, which equals the highest finish in school history.