Mars Area High School Marching Band took first place overall at the Norwin Marching Band Festival, held Sept. 14 at Norwin High School (North Huntingdon, Pa.).

The Fightin’ Planets earned a combined score of 77.225 in Class 3A competition, earning top honors for music performance and as well music and visual effects. This year’s band show, themed “Chasing Sunlight,” features the songs “Requiem-Dies Irae” by Giuseppe Verdi, “Hurricane” by Thirty Seconds to Mars, “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC, and “Chasing Sunlight” by Cait Nishimura.

The band will next perform at the Butler County Band Festival, which begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at Butler Area Senior High School’s Art Bernardi Stadium. Admission is $5.

For more information,  visit www.pimba.org.