Avon Marching Band Named Grand Champion Of Competition

AVON, OH — Avon High School is having a pretty great year. The football team is sitting atop Division II, Region 6 rankings with an 8-0 record. Now, the Mighty Eagles Marching Band has been named Grand Champion by the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) at a competition at Maumee High School.

Aaron Jacobs, Director of Avon's marching band, said that this win was a long time in the making. "It's been about six years since we've won a show; we've spent the last several years rebuilding and growing our organization," stated Jacobs. "When I started in this role we had 78 members, we're up to 95 now, and the incoming classes are expected to increase the size of our marching band."

The band took part in the competition at Maumee on Oct. 14. (To stay up to date on these stories, subscribe to the Patch Avon-Avon Lake newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

The band was rated for their performance of "Into the Wild" which depicts the mystery, danger and wonder of exploring a jungle. The music for the show is an arrangement by Robert W. Smith's "Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual."

Taking home the title Grand Champion wasn't enough for the Avon crew. The band also reeled in the following awards: Best Music in Show and in Class AA; Best Visual in Show and in Class AA; Best General Effect in Show and in Class AA; and Best Color Guard in Show and in Class AA.

The band scored straight ones across all judging categories. A one is the highest rating a band can earn in OMEA competition. That means the band has qualified to compete in the OMEA state finals in Brunswick on Nov. 4.

"The success we're experiencing right now is the result of much more than sheer numbers, however," continued Jacobs. "Over the past several years, we have instituted a comprehensive overhaul of the processes at our middle school program that's now paying off with incoming freshmen who are more confident in their musical abilities."

Jacobs went on to thank band staffers Bryan Hoersten, Brandon Mason, Laurel Florek, Taylor Young and Amanda Vandenhemel.

"When I watch these students rehearse, their energy is infectious. All season long, we've incorporated judges' feedback by adjusting the show's musicality, balance, and dynamics. A confluence of hard work, a sincere desire to win, and continual improvements to our show translated into a big win for us last night, but we're far from done. There's one more box on my wish list for the 2017 season to check off, and that's earning a one at the state finals competition."

Photo from Avon Schools