FOUKE, Ark. - The Fouke Panther Band recently won first place in the Arkansas State 3A Marching Championship. This is the second year in a row for the band to win the top spot in their classification.
Band Director Buddy Deese, who has been at Fouke for seven years, said it was hard work and determination that brought the 58-member band to the top spot for
a second year.
"Determination more than anything and staying the course," he said of the growing group of young musicians. "Also the support of the community and the administration. They really backed us up and have given us everything we need to be successful and it worked out pretty well."
The band's performance program was named "Shine On," with several songs, including "Shine Down," "Make Me Smile" by Chicago, "This is Me" from The Greatest Showman, "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "From Now On," also from The Greatest
Showman.
Assistant band directors are Don Colquitt and Russell Roberts.