The Cleburne High School Golden Pride is marching on to the UIL Area F 5A contest taking place Saturday, October 22 at Birdville Fine Arts/Athletic Complex. The Pride will take the field at 1:30 PM in preliminary performance.

                The band received 1^st Division ratings from all judges at the Region 30 All-Region Band contest on October 11. This year’s UIL contest show is “A Day at the Zoo,” with the Pride taking visitors on a musical and visual tour—from the aviary, the aquarium and the elephant enclosure—to the lions and tigers and bears. Watch out for snakes!

                “This was one of our strongest performances at the Region 30 contest in recent years,” Assistant Director Brock Feller said. “The energy and efforts from our band members has been fantastic. We are very excited to be advancing to the Area contest.”

Cleburne has produced solid showings throughout the fall competition season. The Pride took fourth place at the USBands Crowley Marching competition and placed seventh overall at the Birdville Marching Festival.

                Fifth graders from the district’s seven elementary campuses had the opportunity to see the band in action at the Golden Pride Rock the Rock school day performance at Jacket Stadium on Wednesday.  Also in attendance were seventh and eighth grade band students from Smith and Wheat Middle Schools.

                “We have been hosting this performance for the past few years,” Feller said. “This gives our fifth graders an introductory look into our program, as prospective band students beginning in the sixth grade. Rock the Rock also provides our middle school musicians with a visual of what they will experience during marching season as members of the Cleburne High School Golden Pride.”

                Senior members of the band and the Cleburne High School Showstoppers Dance Team will be recognized in 6:30 pre-game ceremonies at Jacket Stadium on Friday, prior to the kick-off with Killeen Shoemaker. Candidates for Mr. and Miss Golden Pride will be introduced, with the 2022 honorees announced.

                Nominees for Miss Golden Pride are Emily Day, Melissa Griffin, Hillary McBroom, Amy Scott and Maryn Tennison. Mr. Golden Pride candidates include Thomas Cox, Kevin DeAngelo, Alonzo Gonzalez, Felipe Muzquiz and Josh Salgado.

                Tickets for Saturday’s 5A Area F marching contest are $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. They may be purchased online using this link: https://uil-areaf-5a-marching-contest.square.site/

                Performances will begin at 9:45 AM, with finals starting at 7:15 PM. A total of 22 bands will be competing in the hopes of being among the ten selected to advance to the finals.