WILSON, Ark. — The Rivercrest High School marching band once again captured the Class 3A state championship at the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association’s competition, earning their fourth consecutive title. The event was held at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

The Rivercrest band achieved a score of 87.7, besting Piggott High School, which earned second place with 84.5. Their victory was part of a larger success story for Northeast Arkansas bands, with five area ensembles earning top honors in their respective classes.

Senior Jonah Tucker, who has been part of Rivercrest’s last four state championship wins, reflected on the achievement. “My ninth grade year, it was, I think, the best feeling ever, and I mean it still is,” he said. “What makes it really special is a lot of people don’t experience this, and the fact that I get to do it with my friends makes it amazing.”

Senior Marcell Jaramillo noted the sacrifices made during months of preparation. “A lot of blood, sweat, and tears,” Jaramillo said. “So it’s been a lot of sweat, a lot of sadness.”

The dedication required for such success extended to all band members, according to Tucker. “There’s a lot of people, freshmen to be specific, who have had to do so much to get out of their comfort zone,” he said. “This year, I’m band captain. It’s my first year on leadership, and I’ve had to grow just like everyone else.”

Band Director Sebastien Isom praised the group’s work ethic, adding that preparation began well before the competition. “We practice, you know, after school. We practice early mornings. Often times we’ll be up here at 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning on a Saturday after playing at a football game the night before,” Isom said.

Isom also celebrated the achievements of other Northeast Arkansas bands. “I’m blessed to work in a region where our music education teachers in the area are really collaborative,” he said. “We watch each other’s bands. We give feedback. And while we are competing with each other, we’re also keeping in mind the most important thing, which is that all of our students deserve success.”

In Class 4A, Paragould secured the state title with a score of 87.8. Greene County Tech placed second, scoring 87.0, while Brookland claimed third at 85.3. Paragould band director Carlos Serna expressed pride in his group’s performance. “We hadn’t won the last two, and then we brought it back home this year,” Serna said, adding that since the competition began in 2016, the trophy has alternated between Paragould and Greene County Tech.

Greene County Tech band director Kim Webb commended the fierce competition and her students’ efforts. “We did a show called *The Fast Lane*. It was about cars, and there was some very, very stiff competition,” she said.

For the seniors in these programs, the 2026 marching season marked an unforgettable chapter in their high school careers.