Marshall High School Band Earns Top Ratings at UIL Contests

KMHT Radio also recognized with statewide broadcasting awards

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:25pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a marching band uniform, such as a drum major's hat or a saxophone, repeated in a tight grid pattern in the style of Andy Warhol. The image utilizes flat, vibrant, and unnatural neon color palettes overlapping with heavy black photographic outlines to turn the everyday band equipment into modern pop art.The Marshall High School Big Red Pride Band's award-winning performances showcase the community's vibrant arts scene.Marshall Today

The Marshall High School Big Red Pride Band's Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band all earned top marks at the recent UIL competition, with the Wind Ensemble earning sweepstakes and superior ratings. Additionally, local radio station KMHT was recognized by the Texas Association of Broadcasters, winning an award and earning multiple finalist nominations across various categories.

Why it matters

The success of the Marshall High School band program and the recognition of KMHT Radio highlight the vibrant arts and media landscape in the community, showcasing the talent and dedication of local students and professionals.

The details

The Marshall High School Big Red Pride Band's Wind Ensemble earned sweepstakes and superior ratings in the stage performance and sight reading divisions at the UIL competition. The Symphonic Band also earned superior ratings in stage performance and sight reading, while the Concert Band earned excellent ratings in its UIL concert and sight reading assessment. Meanwhile, KMHT Radio in Marshall won a Texas Broadcast News Award for its 'Adoptable Pet Series' and was a finalist in six additional categories, including Best Local Talk Show, Feature, Breaking News, Investigative Report, General Assignment, and Specialty/Beat Reporting. KMHT was also a finalist for the Overall Broadcast Excellence Award, competing against larger market stations.

  • The Marshall High School band competition took place at the UIL event in Gilmer High School.
  • KMHT Radio's award win and finalist nominations were announced by the Texas Association of Broadcasters.

The players

Marshall High School Big Red Pride Band

The award-winning high school band program in Marshall, Texas.

KMHT Radio

A local radio station in Marshall, Texas that was recognized for its excellence in broadcast journalism and content creation.

Ashli Dansby

A journalist at KMHT Radio who was a finalist in multiple categories, including Best Local Talk Show, Feature, Breaking News, Investigative Report, General Assignment, and Specialty/Beat Reporting.

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What they’re saying

“One of the things I think is great about this is that KMHT is the only truly small market radio station represented among the finalists. Each of our competitors comes from the Tyler-Longview, Lubbock or College Station market. Those markets each have populations between 150,000 and 250,000, whereas KMHT is in a town of 24,000. I think that's pretty cool.”

— Ashli Dansby, Journalist, KMHT Radio

The takeaway

The success of the Marshall High School band program and the recognition of KMHT Radio demonstrate the vibrant arts and media landscape in the community, showcasing the talent and dedication of local students and professionals. These achievements highlight the pride and accomplishments of the Marshall community.