2019 Fall Championships Recap

A photo of the Vandegrift Band and Vision Dance Company.

During its first appearance at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in November 2019, Vandegrift High School from Leander, Texas, took home the gold, along with the Outstanding General Effect caption award with a score of 97.175. Avon (Indiana) High School placed second with a score of 96.700 and received the Outstanding Visual Performance award. Hebron High School from Carrollton, Texas, finished in third place with a score of 95.550 and received the Outstanding Music Performance caption award.

At USBands Open Class National Championships, the following bands finished in first place: Group I, Burlington (New Jersey) City High School; Group II, Shepherd Hill Regional High School from Dudley, Massachusetts; Group III, Calvert Hall College High School from Baltimore, Maryland; Group IV, Blackstone-Millville High School from Blackstone, Massachusetts; Group V, Dartmouth (Massachusetts) High School; Group VI, Norwalk (Connecticut) High School.

For Cavalcade of Bands, the championship title went to five Open Class and five A Class groups — Patriot: Open, Nazareth (Pennsylvania) Area High School, and A, Neshaminy High School from Langhorne, Pennsylvania; American: Open, Whitehall (Pennsylvania) High School, and A, Loyalsock Township High School from Williamsport, Pennsylvania; Yankee: Open, Hempfield High School from Landisville, Pennsylvania, and A, Red Lion (Pennsylvania) High School; Independence: Open, Cinnaminson (New Jersey) High School, and A, York (Pennsylvania) Catholic High School; and Liberty: Open, Camp Hill (Pennsylvania) High School, and A, Washington Township High School from Sewell, New Jersey.

At Tournament of Bands, the following ensembles took home the Atlantic Coast Championship title: in Open Class, Group 1, Oakcrest High School from Mays Landing, New Jersey; Group 2; West Deptford (New Jersey) High School; Group 3, Liberty High School from Eldersburg, Maryland; and Group 4; Brick Memorial High School from Brick Township, New Jersey; in A Class, Group 1, Southern Garrett High School from Oakland, Maryland; Group 2; Mainland Regional High School from Linwood, New Jersey; Group 3, Point Pleasant (New Jersey) Borough High School; and Group 4, Fort Lee (New Jersey) High School.

Congratulations to all of the groups.

Photo of Vandegrift High School courtesy of Ken Martinson, Marching.com.

About author

Nicole Roberts

Nicole Roberts is the city hall reporter for the News Tribune in Jefferson City, Missouri. She graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in print/internet journalism and a minor in psychology. She played clarinet in the Missouri State Pride Band and in her high school’s marching band.