2016 Bands of America Grand National Championships, presented by Yamaha

BOA Grand Nationals Preview: Day 1

Check out the first day of preliminaries at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, presented by Yamaha on Nov. 10th.

Nov 8, 2016 by Michael Gilley

Summer band started in the dead heat of the late July and August. Now, for the bands competing at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, presented by Yamaha, it will all come to a close in the chill of November. One hundred bands, thousands of performers, parents, volunteers, and directors converge in Indianapolis. Lucas Oil Stadium is the ultimate stage for the ultimate prize in the world of high school marching band. And it doesn't get any better than being called Grand National champions. Let's take a look at some of the bands that will be performing in Indy.

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Grand National Championship - Prelims - Day 1

Morning Block

(All times are EST)
10:15 AM - Clovis West H.S., CA
Clovis West offers student experiences in band, orchestra, jazz, percussion, and color guard. The band has traveled throughout the United States and has twice performed at the BOA National Concert Band Festival. Clovis West is an 17-time BOA Regional finalist and was the 2010 BOA St. George Regional champion. Clovis West was the winner of the San Jose Regional earlier this season.

10:30 AM - Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN
The Dobyns-Bennett band has a tradition of excellence going back more than 85 years. The band has appeared in three Tournament of Roses Parades, five Macy's Parades, and the Presidential Inaugural Parade. Dobyns-Bennett has been a BOA Regional champion four times and a Grand Nationals semifinalist every time it has attended. The school's symphonic band has played at the prestigious Midwest Clinic twice and is one of only 15 bands nationally to have been awarded both the Sudler Flag and Shield by the JP Sousa Foundation. Dobyns-Bennett won the 2016 BOA Winston-Salem Regional in October.

Afternoon Block 1

1:30 PM - William Mason H.S., OH
The William Mason High School marching band is a four-time Bands of America Regional champion and a five-time Grand National finalist. The band is a recipient of both the Sudler Flag of Honor for Concert Band and the Sudler Sheild for Marching Band. The band was honored to represent Ohio in the 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. In December, the wind symphony will perform at the 2016 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. Williams Mason managed to take the title of grand champion at the BOA Toledo Regional earlier this year.

3:15 PM - Homestead H.S., IN
The Homestead Band has qualified for 29 straight Indiana state marching band finals. The band has placed in the final four in the Indiana state finals for the past 26 years, including eight times as state runner-up and five times as state champion. The Homestead band was the 2011 Indiana Class A state marching band champion and the 2012 Indiana Class A state runner-up. The band is a 2011 recipient of the Sudler Shield Award. Homestead finished third at the Indianapolis Super Regional on November 5.

Afternoon Block 2

4 PM - Castle H.S., IN
The Castle Marching Knights are a 25-time Indiana state finalist, and the 2014 Louisville Regional champion. In 2015, they were named the Indianapolis Super Regional class champion. The wind ensemble has been an Indiana state finalist 20 times and the Castle jazz ensemble was an Indiana state finalist in 2015. Castle won the Class 3A championship at the Indianapolis Super Regional and finished seventh overall during finals.

6 PM - Miamisburg H.S., OH
The Miamisburg Viking marching band is part of a comprehensive music education, consisting of three concert bands, two jazz bands, marching band, a WGI winds ensemble, and a winter guard. Miamisburg made a strong showing at the BOA Dayton Regional earlier this season, finishing seventh overall.

Evening Block

8 PM - Avon H.S., IN
Avon High School is a 12-time Indiana State Music Association Class A state champion, the defending 2015 BOA Indianapolis Super Regional champion, and a three-time BOA Grand National champion. Avon is coming off its win at the Indianapolis Super Regional.

8:45 PM - Carmel H.S., IN
The Carmel Marching Greyhounds are a two-time grand national champion, a 20-time grand national finalist, and a 16-time BOA Regional champion. They have also won four Indiana state championships. The Marching Greyhounds have participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, and have toured London, Hawaii, and New York. They are a 2013 recipient of the Sudler Shield and have also been named the Indiana state concert band champion three times. Carmel just placed second overall at the BOA Indianapolis Super Regional on November 5.

Stay tuned to FloMarching on Thursday, November 10 to LIVE-stream the Bands of America Grand National Championships