The Marching Owls wrapped up their 2025 marching season, highlighting several strong performances at the Sedalia Smith-Cotton Marching Classic and Central Methodist University’s annual Band Day Festival with their field show “Dia De Los Muertos.”

This season unveiled the largest band enrollment in nearly 20 years with 64 members, 30 of which are freshman or newcomers to the program. Director of Bands Sara Summers says she was impressed by the hard work and dedication of each of the members.

 

At the Smith Cotton Marching Classic the Marching Owls placed 3rd in the field category in their class. The Drumline placed 2nd in the Indoor Drumline in that category and the Color Guard, which consists of five first-time members, earned 3rd place in their class. In addition to these successes, the Marshall Drum Majors, Zy’Keriyah Napier and Ki’Asiah Harris, earned the “Outstanding Drum Major” caption. This award was given to the best drum majors out of all the 26 bands that competed that day.

At Central Methodist University’s Band Day, the Marching Owls were up against nine bands in the class 4 division. The Marching Owls earned 5th place, missing fourth place to Grandview by less than a half of a point, in the field show category. The Drumline placed 5th in their Indoor category and the Color Guard placed 8th.

The band has begun their transition to concert band and is preparing for its Winter Concert in December. Summers notes some of the biggest challenges that come with the transition.

 

The band will perform their annual Winter Concert alongside the MHS Orchestra and 6th Grade Beginning Band on December 11. That concert will be held in the MHS Gymnasium at 7 p.m. and will be free and open to the public.