2006, 2011, & 2015 Bands of America Grand National Champion

The Broken Arrow Band program was founded in 1929 and over the years has developed a tradition of musical excellence. The band program has been and remains “a work in progress.” Under its current structure, the Broken Arrow Band program consists of five middle schools, a Freshman Academy, and one High School. The High School and Freshman Academy consist of eight concert bands that meet daily and focus only on concert repertoire.

The concert bands in Broken Arrow have long been a driving force in the overall music program. With more than 100 Oklahoma Secondary School Activity Association Sweepstakes Awards, they are recognized as among the top bands in the country. In 2008, the Broken Arrow Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. The various concert bands and jazz ensembles have performed at the Oklahoma Music Educators Convention on many occasions and often appear in regional and national concert band and jazz festivals. Broken Arrow’s band program also has produced numerous state champion jazz ensembles, winter guards, percussion ensembles and an abundance of district and state superior- rated solos and chamber ensembles. In 2014, the Broken Arrow Wind Ensemble made its inaugural concert appearance in New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall. The Broken Arrow Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic’s International Band & Orchestra Conference in Chicago in December of 2015.

Broken Arrow’s marching band, The Pride of Broken Arrow, is a volunteer organization that is open for audition to wind band students in the 9th through 12th grades. The Pride of Broken Arrow marching band is an extracurricular activity, with 100% of the rehearsal time held outside of the school day. The Pride performs at home and away football games as well as at various state, regional and national marching band competitions. Broken Arrow’s marching band has a rich heritage and an extensive pedigree of state and national awards including 13 consecutive and 22 overall OBA State Marching Band Championships, as of June 2015. The Broken Arrow marching band appeared in the 2009 and 2013 Tournament of Roses Parade and was a recipient of the John Phillip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Shield in 1998 and 2009. As a representative of the State of Oklahoma, the Pride performed in Presidential Inaugural Parades for President William Jefferson Clinton (1993) and President George W. Bush (2005). The band is also a consistent finalist and Grand Champion at numerous Bands of America Regional Championships. The Pride of Broken Arrow is honored to have been named the Bands of America Fan Favorite at two Grand National Championships and the Esprit de Corps recipient in 1998 and 2010. Broken Arrow is an 12-time Grand National Finalist and is the 2006 and 2011 Bands of America Grand National Champion.

In addition to the work of the staff and students, the program recognizes their parent organization as the strength behind the band. The Broken Arrow Band Parent Association is comprised of hundreds of dedicated and talented adults who work toward a common goal of providing life-changing experiences for their children. The Broken Arrow Band Program with the assistance of the Band Parent Association annually hosts world-class events such as the Drums of Summer DCI competition and the Broken Arrow Invitational marching band competition, which attracts high school bands throughout the nation.

The Broken Arrow bands enjoy rich traditions and great support from parents, school administrators and the community. Each student, instructor and parent volunteer in the organization understands that they are but temporary stewards of the program and as such, they must diligently protect what has been entrusted to them. They firmly believe it is the journey that make the difference and the growth attained through the process is more important that any product that may result.