BOA

2016 BOA Grand National Finalist Feature: Dobyns Bennett H.S.

2016 BOA Grand National Finalist Feature: Dobyns Bennett H.S.

Here's a look back at the Bands of America Grand National Finalist Dobyns-Bennett High School marching band.

Dec 7, 2016 by Michael Gilley
2016 BOA Grand National Finalist Feature: Dobyns Bennett H.S.
Now that the DCI season has ended, we turn our focus to the upcoming Bands of America season. To better understand what might transpire in 2017, we take a look back at 2016 with the bands who made it to finals at Grand Nationals.

For the seniors on the Dobyns-Bennett High School marching band, it's easy to see how they were able to pack the past four years of their lives into their show this fall and hold nothing back.

From day one of summer band, the primary goal of Dobyns-Bennett was to put forth the absolute best show they could as an ensemble and walk off the field with the feeling that there was nothing left to give. 

As Dobyns-Bennett head director Lafe Cook says, "Competitive marching band is all offensive. No defense."

null

Dobyns-Bennett may not be one of those big name schools from a huge town, but the first-time BOA Grand National Finalists from Kingsport, Tennessee, continue to make a name for themselves in competitions across the country. After winning the Winston-Salem Regional earlier this year in convincing fashion, Dobyns-Bennett went on to place third at the Atlanta Super Regional and was awarded outstanding music performance during the finals.

The band's show itself is hauntingly beautiful -- full of gorgeous sounds followed by moments of raw power. It doesn't have the "over the top" props or big time "flash" of some of the other shows in Bands of America. But the band simply performs supremely and tears at your heart with this show. 

"Results are so irrelevant for us, because that was the best they could do that show," Cook said. "That's what it's about. Kids achieving excellence through hard work."

UPCOMING 2017 BOA EVENTS:

BOA North Carolina Regional
BOA Grand Nationals



How to Watch

ON TV: Available on Roku and Apple TV 4 -- download the FloSports app now.
STREAMING: Only on FloMarching with a PRO subscription. A yearly PRO subscription provides access to ALL FloSports sites. Join Now


Join The Conversation On Social

• Follow us on Twitter @FloMarching
• Follow us on Instagram @FloMarching
• Follow us on Facebook

FloMarching's hottest content, delivered to your inbox

Don't miss breaking news, feature stories, event updates, and more. Sign up for the FloMarching mailing list today.