The Mississippi Lions All-State band, including eight Vicksburg students, took top honors in international competition Tuesday in Minneapolis.

It was the 26th win for the state group.

“They did such a good job, it wasn’t much of a choice,” said Pearl High School band director Jeff Cannon, this year’s leader of the state group. “This was a high level of achievement.”

The Vicksburg band members are Della Loflin, 17, the daughter of Russ and Susan Loflin; Elizabeth Ogle, 17, the daughter of Harry and Vickie Ogle; Lauren Proctor, 16, the daughter of Kenneth and Melissa Proctor; Kevin Patel, 18, the son of Champak and Hema Patel; Aliesha Phillips, 17, the daughter of Henry Phillips and Stephanie Combs; and Conrad Reihsmann, 18, the son of Oscar and Bunny Reihsmann, all of Warren Central’s Big Blue Band; Shane Bowser, 16, the son of John and Kimberly Bowser; and Darius J. Valentine, 18, the son of Craig Williams and Lillie Valentine, both of Vicksburg High School Pride Band

The students are among 146 across the who traveled to Minneapolis for the 92nd annual Lions Club International Convention.

“The kids did very well,” Cannon said. “They had to perform at an outside concert in a concrete amphitheater.”

The parade portion of the competition involved 60 bands, marching 12 blocks for 3 1/2 hours through downtown Minneapolis.

The Mississippi band won with a 96.5 rating;  Kentucky’s All-State Band came in second with 86.5.

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Contact Matthew Breazeale at mbreazeale@vicksburgpost.com