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The 2018 Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Championships concluded last month, with Yamaha once again leading the way as national presenting sponsor of the event, a role the company has been honored to play for more than two decades.
The Championships, held November 8 to 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, attracted more than 93,000 participants and spectators, with thousands more watching the events via livestream. The marching event is the culmination of the Bands of America season, which includes 22 regional events held across the country. Music students representing 108 bands, all of which are using a variety of Yamaha instruments, participated in the regional BOA events.
A field of 108 bands competed in preliminary contests last Thursday and Friday, with each band vying to become one of the top 12 bands to advance to Saturday’s semi-finals. The top 12 bands then competed in the Finals Saturday night, where their performances were judged by a panel of nationally-recognized music educators and marching band experts.
In the end, the Championships saw Yamaha Artist Jeff Queen lead Carmel High School of Carmel Indiana, as Grand National Champion and Yamaha Winds Artist Matt Harloff lead Avon High School of Avon, Indiana to a 2nd place finish. Broken Arrow High School of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, led by Yamaha Artist Adam Wiencken captured 4th place, and Prosper High School place win under the leadership of Yamaha Artist Mike Huestis.
Since 1997, high school ensembles performing on Yamaha percussion instruments have achieved an enviable record of accomplishments by garnering more than 60 percent of all of the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals awarded at BOA Championships.
“Yamaha has been honored to partner with Bands of America and Music For All since 1997, and to demonstrate our company’s total dedication to music education,” says Troy C. Wollwage, percussion marketing manager, Band & Orchestral division, Yamaha Corporation of America. “I am pleased that so many talented, young musicians ultimately choose Yamaha marching instruments, not only to earn high marks and awards at these competitions, but also to master their skills on and off the field.”
