The Prospect High School Marching Knights, directed by Chris Barnum, recently concluded a very successful competition season, participating at the top in local, state, and national levels.

On Sept. 11 the band captured 1st place in Finals at Lake Park High School's Lancer Joust. Prospect also received awards for Outstanding Visual performance and Outstanding General Effect while placing first in Class AAA Prelims, and captured awards for Outstanding Music Performance and Outstanding General Effect in Finals.

On Sept. 25 the Knights again placed first in two competitions. Prospect earned the highest overall score and won 1st place in the Chicagoland Marching Band Festival at Wheeling High School, where the Knights also received awards for Best Percussion, Auxiliary, General Effect and Music. The group also claimed 1st place at the Red & Black Fall Classic at Northern Illinois University's Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, where the Knights also earned awards for best Percussion and Overall Effect.

Prospect competed at the 44th annual University of Illinois Illini Marching Band Championships in Urbana-Champaign on Oct. 16, claiming the Illini Grand Champion Trophy. The Marching Knights were awarded first place in Class 5A and ranked first among all 22 bands in Class 4A. 5A and 6A and also were recognized for Overall Music General Effect and Overall Visual General Effect.

On Oct. 23 at the State of Illinois Marching Band Championships, the Marching Knights were named the best Class 5A Musical Performance band, while placing second in 5A Prelims. In a field of 14 bands in Finals, Prospect placed fourth.

The Knights concluded the season in Atlanta, Ga., at the Bands of America Super Regional on Oct. 30, where the group earned a spot as one of the 12 Finalists from the states of Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana, Ohio and Illinois.

The Marching Knights 2010 show is titled "Away Above the Chimney Tops." Musical pieces include Philip Glass' 1000 Airplanes on the Roof, Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy and Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Howard Arlen.