As the last musical notes of fall fade, the Harrisburg High School Marching Bulldogs are closing the chapter on another year filled with halftime shows, lively pep rallies, and tough parade competitions. This season’s first-place finish at the Pinckneyville Mardi Gras Parade marked an extraordinary milestone: ten consecutive years undefeated as a marching band.
The band has performed all over southern Illinois this year, and participated in well known festivals such as Ridgeway’s Popcorn Days and Mt. Vernon Fall Festival.
For the graduating seniors, this finale represents far more than the end of a season. It’s a celebration of years of hard work, lasting friendships and treasured memories made through countless hours of rehearsal and performance.
Any senior band member would agree that band is more than just a class or an activity. It’s a family built on teamwork, commitment and love for music.
Freshman Color Guard member Kiara Cook said her favorite memory so far has been band camp. “My favorite memory from band would be band camp because it made me realize that band was actually something I wanted to commit to,” Cook said. “Even though it was tough, it helped me learn a lot in a small amount of time.”
Cook also reflected on the unity that keeps the Marching Bulldogs strong. “Some of the obstacles we’ve gone through as a team are trying to keep everyone together and bring us closer so we can help each other,” she said.
HHS alumnus Ryan Wilson, who graduated in 2022, was proud to see the program reach its 10-year milestone. “It’s a big deal to be part of something so successful,” Wilson said. “Every year the upperclassmen work hard to pass the legacy on down to the next group.”
He also credited longtime band director Mrs. Hannah Drake for setting the standard that drives the Marching Bulldogs’ success. “Mrs. Drake expects nothing but the very best every single time you perform,” Wilson said. “She sets the bar high. The band respects her and wants to live up to her expectations.”
All ten years of this winning streak have been performed under the leadership of Drake. She has helped mold and shape the band into the award-winning phenomenon that it is today. The band’s iconic routine and in-sync movements are second to none in the area.
The HHS Marching Bulldogs have truly earned a reputation in the area for being disciplined and hard working. Those qualities are displayed every single time they compete.
As marching season closes and seniors prepare to trade in their uniforms for caps and gowns, they’ll take with them more than musical talent. The lessons in leadership, discipline, and perseverance learned on the field will stay with them long after the final note fades.
