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Sperry Band of Pirates Continues to Raise the Bar of Success
Like other activities participating in Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activity Association (OSSAA) programs, bands throughout the state compete at a district, regional, and state level in the hopes of attaining the program’s highest award. The highest award a band can win in the OSSAA is the Sweepstakes Award. Districts throughout the state post signs noting the years various school programs were State Champions. For a district’s band, this rare achievement is the Sweepstakes Award. The Sweepstakes Award spans the entire academic year and is the culmination of the district’s successes throughout the school year. Bands must compete in three different activities, each requiring differing sets of skills and talent, and receive the highest possible scores in each.
During the course of the 2023-2024 school year, the Sperry Band of Pirates received 13 superior ratings from 13 separate judges in contests ranging from early in the fall of 2023 through spring of 2024 in order to win this prestigious award. In October, the band earned three superior ratings from a panel of three judges in the OSSAA marching band competition, featuring their field halftime show. In early March, the band qualified for state by earning four superior ratings from a panel of three judges on prepared stage pieces and from the sight reading competition, reviewed by a single judge. As March came to an end, the band traveled to the East Central University campus in Ada to attend OSSAA State Competition where they received six superior ratings from a panel of three judges in stage competition and from a panel of three judges in the sight reading competition.
Months of hard work paid off when the Sperry High School Band brought home the 2023-2024 OSSAA Sweepstakes Award, and while this is achievement enough for the district to celebrate, that is not the whole story for the Sperry Band of Pirates. This is, in fact, the fourth time in the district’s history that the Sweepstakes Award has been brought home to Sperry. Furthermore, in the past four years, this award has found a home in the Sperry High School Band building three times.
There are 128 3A bands participating in OSSAA competitions, and this year only five received top these honors.
While the band was working with an eye to obtaining the Sweepstakes Award this year, they still had to juggle several other performances and activities throughout the school year. In addition to the OSSAA competitions, the Band of Pirates performed two concerts, marched in two parades, provided musical entertainment at numerous football games and pep assemblies, practiced for honor band auditions and performances, and prepared for the small group districts competition for which 11 Sperry musicians will head back to state to compete next month. All in the year of a busy and successful band program!
“To achieve this honor four times is a great accomplishment,” Sperry Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Beagles said, “but to also achieve it three times in such short span of years, and twice in a row is a true testament of the talent of these musicians and the instructional skill of Ms. West. The district is truly proud of them all.”
