Mclean's marching band wins high marks, competes in prestigious competition this weekend

McLean High School Marching Band Wins Top Honor

Taking Award-Winning Show to Bands of America Competition

McLean’s Highlander Marching Band will take its award-winning show “There’s
Always Hope” to the Bands of America regional Competition at the University
of Delaware this Saturday, October 17, 2015. McLean will be one of 26
bands performing in the prestigious competition.

McLean’s “There’s Always Hope” performance received the highest honor,
Grand Champions and highest score of the day, at the Rock Ridge Band Day
competition in Ashburn, Virginia on Saturday, October 10, 2015. At Rock
Ridge, McLean also marched away with Best Music, Best Visual, Best Guard,
Best Percussion, Best General Effect and a Superior Rating.

Earlier on the same day, at the Battle of Blue Ridge in Winchester, McLean
earned First Place in Class, Best Percussion, and Best General Effect and
took a Superior Rating.

“There’s Always Hope” is a fast-moving, exciting show with synchronized
movements that highlight each section of the band and color guard. The 177
performers march in constantly-changing directions, weaving sideways,
backwards and forwards all while moving flags in sync or playing
challenging musical selections from Russian composers.

The musical medley mixes Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, Aleksandr Borodin’s
Prince Igor-Polovtsian Dance and music from Dmitri Shastakovich. Visual
enhancements display art from British street artist Banksy.

Bands competing in Delaware on October 17 are coming from Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Connecticut,
Florida, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia. The other Northern
Virginia bands competing are from James Madison H.S., Thomas Jefferson
H.S., Chantilly H.S. and South Lakes H.S. The competition begins at 8:15
a.m. and concludes after the Finals competition at 10:30 p.m.