LEXINGTON — Nine marching bands throughout the state competed in Saturday’s Festival of Champions at Lexington High School.
The Lexington Festival of Champions High School Marching Band Competition, now in its 43rd year, is a contest of highly qualified marching bands, each striving for excellence in a well coordinated marching and musical presentation.
Judges consider the difficulty of the maneuvers, as well as the balance and quality of the music.
Bands are grouped into four classes according to the number of students in the high school’s upper three grades: Class C = 300 or less students; Class B = 301 to 500 students; Class A = 501 to 900 students; and Class AA = 901 or more students. Any band has the option of joining a higher classification, but not a lower one.
The Festival of Champions is sanctioned by the Ohio Music Education Association and is a state qualifier.
Vicki Shook, festival chairperson, said the performances were amazing.
“It was a great event with a great turnout and we look forward to everyone coming out again next year,” she said.
The competition featured one band in both Class C and Class B (Shenandoah High School and Van Buren High School, respectively). The remaining bands belonged to Class AA: Westerville North High School, Olentangy High School, Firestone High School, Groveport Madison High School, Reynoldsburg High School, Thomas Worthington High School, and Berne Union High School.
Results:
Class AA
- Best Percussion: Groveport Madison
- Best Auxiliary: Olentangy
- Seventh Place: Firestone
- Sixth Place: Groveport Madison
- Fifth Place: Westerville North
- Fourth Place: Reynoldsburg
- Third Place: Olentangy
- Second Place: Thomas Worthington
- First Place: Berne Union
Best of Show Awards
- Outstanding Auxiliary: Olentangy
- Outstanding Percussion: Groveport Madison
- Outstanding General Effect: Berne Union
- Outstanding Music: Thomas Worthington
- Outstanding Visual: Berne Union
Reserve Grand Champion: Thomas Worthington
Grand Champion: Berne Union
Lexington’s Band of Gold, though not a competitor, performed at the conclusion of the event.
Zak Wilkins, band director at Lexington, was pleased with the Band of Gold’s performance, which was titled “Afterworld.”
“It’s always really tough when you’re hosting the show,” he pointed out. “The kids had to be here at 8:30 a.m. and they didn’t perform until 2 p.m.
“There’s a lot that goes into it, so it was nice to see them do well.”
The Band of Gold has a reputation of being one of the most consistently successful competition bands in the state, having received 28 Superior ratings at the OMEA State Finals since 1987 and achieving various Best of Class and Grand Champion awards at events around the state.
Lexington, which belongs to Class A, will compete in the State Marching Band Finals in the coming weeks.
