Boerne High School earned itself $15,000 in band equipment courtesy of rock legends Metallica. The school's band was a standout in Metallica's "For Whom The Band Tolls" contest, which saw bands across the nation vying for a big win by incorporating the band's music into their performances. The competition's prize fund totaled nearly $200,000 in gear for the groups putting on the most show-stopping renditions, as reported by KENS 5.
Metallica set the stage back in April, challenging high school and college marching bands to crank up their creativity and rock out to their hits for the prizes. Boerne High School tied for top honors in the medium-sized high school category with Malverne High School from New York, both schools snagging equal slices of the prize pie. The Texas ensemble's four-minute medley included classics like, "For Whom the Bell Tolls," and "Enter Sandman," among others, a performance that resonated with Metallica and their contest judges. "The response blew us away and made for a heated competition, and the results are in!" Metallica said in a statement obtained by KSAT.
Robert Trujillo, Metallica's bassist, unveiled the winners in a Facebook post, with Auburn University taking the Division 1 collegiate prize and Eastern New Mexico University clinching the Division 2 and 3 collegiate titles. Smaller high schools were also in the mix, with Oakton High School in Virginia earning their own $15,000 in music-making equipment for their rocking rendition.
Metallica's partners like Tama, Bergerault USA, and KHS America, among others, are ensuring the winnings have the right kind of metal -- brass, woodwind, and percussion, to be precise. Metallica extended a thank you to all participating bands, acknowledging the fresh energy they've brought into their staple soundtracks."Marching bands at high school and collegiate levels cranked their repertoires up to 11 to compete for nearly $200,000 in equipment by creating the most exciting, unique, and impressive performances incorporating our music," they voiced with gratitude, Metallica's statement echoed from KENS 5. Contest backers like Zildjian Company and D'Addario and Co. are also part of the effort to equip these musically inclined youngsters with top-tier gear.
