Review: Bands of America Grand National Championships (Part 2 of 2)

The Woodlands High School, Texas – “Amen”
7th Place – 92.50

I have to applaud The Woodlands up front for their fearless integration of vocals, electronics and world percussion. I’ve always found their shows to be entertaining and somewhat over the top without being forcefully over the top. This year’s show featured various round tarps set up in a hexagon pattern and a colorful music program including music from Jonathan Elias’ Prayer Cycle – a personal favorite of mine. For the most part the music performance was controlled, only letting out a few blatty moments here and there. The smiles on the performers faces were infectious, particularly in the percussion and vocal features. I was initially disappointed with what appeared to be a formulaic park-and-bark ending until the real ending materialized. The band members, looking almost vulnerable without their hats, formed a block, joined hands, kneeled and then bowed their heads – just the kind of warm gesture the tone of the show called for.

The Woodlands High School, Texas

Lawrence Central High School, Indiana – “Begin Again”
8th Place – 92.15

This was, without a doubt, the most conceptual show of the night, offering a depth of theming not present in many of the other performances. It was hard to take in with only one viewing, but following the bands journey from dark to light was quite enjoyable. Lawrence commanded their usual symphonic sound that makes me forget I’m watching a marching band. Watching them go back-to-back with Marcus was an aural delight. I also have to give the guard credit for some excellent weapons work, particularly with rifles. While many in the audience may have had trouble following the journey from “fear, greed and oppresion” to “renewal” (as spelled on the backfield props) there was an audible “aww” at the end of the show as the central figure of the show hugged a guard member. This type of connection with an audience is priceless and in this case is a tribute to Lawrence Central for bringing a tough concept to the field with meaningful poise.

Lawrence Central High School, Indiana

Marcus High School, Texas – “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
4th Place - 94.50
Outstanding Music

Watching Marcus perform was like eating a chocolate bar washed down with a can of soda. The performance was so saccharine sweet that it was almost too much. Fortunately, even when I was rolling my eyes, my ears were treated to a symphonic sound more than worthy of the night’s Outstanding Music caption. It’s been said, and rightly so, that if Marcus’ visual program were cranked up a notch that they would be legitimate contenders for a championship. After this show I couldn’t agree more. Butterflies and serif text do not a champion make. But that music? Awesome. I can think of numerous works that I’d love to see this group put on the field. Congratulations are in order for making such an impact in their first visit to Grand Nationals. I look forward to seeing this group again, hopefully with their visual program turned up a few clicks.

Marcus High School, Texas

Wando High School, South Carolina – “Beyond”
11th Place – 89.15

Wando brought to life the paintings of Spanish artist Joan Miro. While this was their first appearance in finals, it may not be their last. The band brought a strong music program and executed well. I wanted some more dynamics in certain portions and the visual program was sloppy in places, but a little more cleaning could have elevated the show even higher in placement. It was great to hear the thunderous support of Wando parents and fans cheering on their band for a very respectable introduction to the Grand National Finals stage.

Wando High School, South Carolina

Avon High School, Indiana – “Communiformity”
1st Place – 96.60
Outstanding Visual (tied with Marian Catholic)
Outstanding General Effect (tied with Avon)

If LD Bell was all about grace then Avon was all about precision. Spread across the field in a large triangle, the band commanded the full attention of the audience for the entire length of their exhausting performance. I say exhausting because all of the motion was wearing me out and all I had to do was sit and watch. Avon has brought a consistently strong, clean visual program to Grand Nationals over the past few years but this year’s effort was almost unreal. The clever use of facemasks to imply uniformity coupled with the initial integration of the guard into the band is proof that the most subtle of gestures can be among the most effective. I also enjoyed the double-drillform effect achieved by using hats as one form and bodies as the other – just beautiful. As the band converges on the guard at the show’s finale I found myself on my feet before the last flag hit the field after being ejected from the center of the form. Congratulations to Avon for a well-deserved repeat championship. I’m already looking forward to their efforts at a “three-peat”.

Avon High School, Indiana

Centerville High School, Ohio – “Icon: The Art of Elvis”
12th Place – 88.80

It could be my eyes deceiving me but I feel like Centerville has a very distinct geometry to their shows. I almost always like their visual program and it always feels very, well, Centerville. I really enjoyed their take on ‘the King’ and this show was a great way to close the evening. From a bluesy ballad to nice work from the front ensemble to a completely acceptable park-and-blow segment the audience was hooked into their interpretation of all things Elvis. The segment from “Hound Dog” was particularly spot-on. There were some visual gaffes, sure, and not every musical moment was a great one, but overall Centerville packed a lot of punch, and more importantly, fun, into their time on the field. I hope these kids had as much fun performing this show as I did watching.

Centerville High School, Ohio

Below is Avon's encore performance after winning their second Grand Nationals Championship in a row. Aside from the great music, the drum major is outstanding!

Review: Bands of America Grand National Championships (Part 1 of 2)

On November 12-14, 91 high school marching bands from across the nation gathered in Indianapolis for the 2009 Bands of America Grand National Championships. The field was narrowed to 12 for Saturday evening's finals performance. This is my fifteenth consecutive Grand Nationals and below are highlights from each of the 12 finalists in performance order. For the sake of organization, this post is divided into two parts.

Broken Arrow High School, Oklahoma – “Rite of the Raptor”
6th Place – 92.75

Having spent the past few years perfecting the art of the preshow the Pride of Broken Arrow did not disappoint this year. The guard entered the field underneath a floating, spinning black tarp while the opening melody from Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite echoed through the stadium. Clad in new uniforms that have sadly ditched the bicolor pant leg, the band presented an avian-themed show grounded in melody. The Firebird theme permeated the music in various forms including a superb soprano saxophone solo. The winds played well through a feature while the brass danced, paired off with guard members. The clean sound and prominent melodies of the show were reminiscent of the band’s 2006 championship show. Having spent the past two years in a slightly darker, chaotic musical space it was nice to see Broken Arrow reveal a lighter side again.

Broken Arrow High School, Oklahoma

James Bowie High School, Texas – “The Mystic”
10th Place – 89.65

James Bowie brought a tale of witchcraft and mystery to life. Concert French horns opened the show before being joined by a woodwind choir, then finally the entire band. The guard, clad in royal purple robes with deep, Druid-like hoods enhanced the dark mood of the show. In a clever turn the band formed a monster, complete with horns and claws. The ferocious creature was vanquished by a brave guard member who climbed into the belly of the beast. The visual program on the whole didn’t appear quite as challenging as other finalists and allowed my mind to wander in places. The dissolve of the block into a concert arc to close the show was, however, very nice, accented with large red silks from the guard.

James Bowie High School, Texas

Center Grove High School, Indiana – “Music Box Macabre”
9th Place – 90.40

Failing to resist the urge to populate the field with props, Center Grove framed their 2009 production with black backdrops, each with a raised box for a guard member to dance on. Front and center was a large music box that opened at the show’s beginning to reveal a slowly spinning ballerina. Danny Elfmans Ice Dance from Edward Scissorhands wafted through the air as the ballerina begain to dance and the band began to move. Utilizing music from Saint-Saens, Verdi and Cirque du Soleil composer Rene Dupere, Center Grove created a moody atmosphere worthy of the show’s title. The guard featured well with their weapon work and the drumline made good use of their time in the spotlight during a short drum break mid-show. The performance closed on a soft note as the band returned to their original set, lying down on the field and playing towards the sky.

Center Grove High School, Indiana

LD Bell High School, Texas – “A Prayer For Light”
2nd Place – 92.95
Outstanding General Effect (tie with Avon)

LD Bell projected pure grace from the moment they entered the field. The guard, in diaphonous goldenrod gowns, complimented the band in their new, crisp white uniforms. From the opening arcs to the closing quartets of marchers the band made a complex visual program look effortless. The music showcased the bands firm control on the material, moving from quiet, reflective moments to brassier, bold themes. The combination of white and yellows on the field allowed little room for error but the band appeared not to need any wiggle room to begin with. The show had me hooked from the first notes and didn’t let go until the closing cutoff. The performance poise of this group is not to be taken for granted. I’ve enjoyed Bell’s direction for the past two years in presenting well-performed, accesible music after the much darker themes the group explored in 2006 and 2007. By the time guard members were hoisted “into the pure white light” at the shows conclusion I was already itching to hear this show again.

LD Bell High School, Texas

Marian Catholic High School, Illinois – “The Nightingale: A Parable of Guilded Cages”
3rd Place – 92.95
Outstanding Visual (tie with Avon)

After the recent front page article in the Chicago Tribune I wasn’t expecting that much from this perennial finalist. I couldn’t have been more short-sighted. The program reminded me of their 1997 championship-nabbing show “Portraits of the Orient” and though I have to admit being disappointed that there were no glowing lanterns this time around there wasn’t much else to be disappointed with. “The Nightingale” was a different kind of show than most this year, focusing more on a firm control of the music and a softer, gentler musicality. It’s wise to remember that this type of playing can be more difficult than bolder, louder music and Marian deserves a lot of credit for pulling this off. Year after year I’m impressed with the silks and other visuals associated with the guard and this show was no different. Whomever makes those decisions must share my color aesthetics because in fifteen years I can’t remember a single disappointment on that front. There’s a reason Marian is known for their last-minute rise and race to the finish and this year couldn’t have been a stronger reminder.

Marian Catholic High School, Illinois

Carmel High School, Indiana – “Virtue-osity”
5th Place – 94.45

Carmel brought a bolder, brassier show than recent years along with its usual bag of visual tricks. A cello soloist accompanied the band for the first movement and the brass took over from there, playing a difficult book with remarkable poise for high school musicians. Carmel rarely fails to bring a new visual innovation or a twist on an old one and this years drill was no different. I do find the band running or long-stepping far more often than their competitors. It’s a laudable feat for sure but borders on distracting at times. At least no one on the field has any excuse for being out of shape. The coordination of rifle tosses with the music worked really well for this show, even with a few prominent drops. I’ll be anxious to see if Carmel maintains this louder image for next season.

Carmel High School, Indiana