FZN Panther Pride Band carries on winning tradition!

The Fort Zumwalt North Panther Pride Band has had a dominant 2023 regular season as it heads to the Dome at America's Center this weekend for its annual championship event, the Bands of America Midwest Super-Regional. The FZN marching band is under the direction of Patrick Stewart and assisted by Matt Shultz. Stewart took over last summer for long-time director, Rob Babel. This year's version of the Panther Pride band hasn't missed a beat, carrying on the legacy of the band's strong tradition that was established under Rob Babel.

The band started the season at the "Metro East Marching Classic" at O'Fallon (IL) Township High School on September 9th, winning 1st place in Class 3A and the captions for Outstanding Music and General Effect Performance.

The season continued on September 30th at Fox High School at the "Music On The Meramec" Marching Band Festival. The band won 1st place in the Black Division and swept captions for Outstanding Percussion, Color Guard, Music, and Visual Performance. The band also was named the "Grand Champion" for this event.

The regular season concluded this past weekend in Macomb (IL) at the "Western Illinois University Marching Band Classic". Facing 29 other bands from across Illinois, the Panther Pride Band again won 1st place in the class (4A) and the captions for Outstanding Percussion and Winds. The band was named the "Grand Champion" for this event as well.

The band finished the regular season with a perfect record of 52-0 against other competing bands!

The Panther Pride Band will perform at 1:30 this Friday afternoon at the Bands of America Midwest Super-Regional against 66 bands from across 11 states. They will compete in Class 2A and are attempting to make the "Finals" round at this event for the first time since 2016.