The fall 2013 marching season may be over, but the successes are still fresh. For the first time, The Woodlands (Texas) High School won first place at Bands of America Grand Nationals.
Winning the championships felt surreal for Joni Perez, head band director. “I think the feeling was just overwhelming,” Perez says. “I am beyond thankful for having the opportunity to compete at a national level.”
USBands named six A Class champions: Group I, Weehawken (N.J.); Group II, Monroe Township (N.J.); Group III, North Warren Regional (N.J.); Group IV, Northern Highlands (N.J.); Group V, Elizabeth (N.J.); and Group VI, Jackson Memorial (N.J.). USBands also named six Open Class champions: Group I, Haddon Heights (N.J.); Group II, Edison (N.J.); Group III, King Philip (Mass.); Group IV, Smithfield-Selma (N.C.); Group V, Dartmouth (Mass.); and Group VI, West Genesee (N.Y.).
Cavalcade of Bands in Pennsylvania honored champions in four divisions— Independence: A, Northern Lebanon, and Open, East Stroudsburg North; Yankee: A, Downingtown West, and Open, Spring-Ford; American: A, Blue Mountain, and Open, Plymouth-Whitemarsh; Liberty: A, South Western, and Open, Hatboro-Horsham.
For the Tournament of Bands, four groups in each class were crowned: in Open Class, Biglerville (Pa.), West Deptford (N.J.), Southern Regional from Manahawkin N.J., and Spring-Ford from Royersford, Pa; in A Class, Collingswood (N.J.), Oakcrest from Mays Landing, N.J., Pennsauken (N.J.), and Central Dauphin from Harrisburg, Pa.
Congratulations to all of the bands!