Yamaha Ensembles at 2018 Grand National Championships Capture Gold and Silver Awards
INDIANAPOLIS (PRWEB) December 18, 2018 -- 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 8-10 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, attracted more than 93,000 participants and spectators, with thousands more watching the events via live stream. The marching event is the culmination of the Bands of America season, which includes 21 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, with each band vying to become one of the top 12 bands to advance to the semi-finals. The top 12 bands then competed in the Finals, 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. Led by Yamaha Artist Adam Wiencken, Broken Arrow High School of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, captured 4th place, while Prosper High School had a top 15 finish under the leadership of Yamaha Artist Mike Huestis. Additionally, Tarpon Springs High School of Tarpon Springs, Florida, placed 10th under the direction of Yamaha Master Educator Kevin Ford. Ford is also Founder and Director of the Leadership Conservatory for the Arts at Tarpon Springs High School.
Among marching bands performing in exhibition was the Spartan Marching Band of Michigan State University. An All-Yamaha marching band, the Spartans joined with United Sounds students and performed with direction and leadership from Director of Bands and Yamaha Master Educator Kevin Sedatole and Yamaha Percussion Artist Jon Weber.
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. Beyond awards, however, students who are performing and studying with Yamaha instruments are set up for success due to the quality, consistency, durability and industry support gained by using the company’s peerless instruments.
“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.”
The BOA competitions are renowned for their spectacular music and creative pageantry. Founded in 1975, BOA is the leading presenter of music events for high school students. The organization’s Grand National Championships is the largest high school marching band championship in the United States with more than one million alumni of marching band events.
For more information about Yamaha marching instruments, please visit https://yamaha.io/2RvaPK4
-END-
About Yamaha
Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA) is one of the largest subsidiaries of Yamaha Corporation, Japan and offers a full line of award-winning musical instruments, sound reinforcement, commercial installation and home entertainment products to the U.S. market. Products include: Yamaha acoustic, digital and hybrid pianos, portable keyboards, guitars, acoustic and electronic drums, band and orchestral instruments, marching percussion products, synthesizers, professional digital and analog audio equipment, Steinberg recording products and NEXO commercial audio products, as well as AV receivers, amplifiers, MusicCast wireless multiroom audio systems, Blu-ray/CD players, earphones, headphones, home-theater-in-a-box systems, sound bars and its exclusive line of Digital Sound Projectors. YCA markets innovative, finely crafted technology and entertainment products and musical instruments targeted to the hobbyist, education, worship, music, professional audio installation and consumer markets.
Peter Giles, Giles Communications, http://www.giles.com, 914-644-3500 x 700, [email protected]
Share this article