Bands of America Grand National Championship Finalist

Wando Marching Band Captures National Finalist Award at Grand National Championship 

Since July, the students, directors, staff, and volunteers of the Wando Marching Band have been working towards what has become an historic marching season for the program. This past weekend they capped off their checklist of goals after competing with the top marching bands from across the country. 

108 bands, over 20,000 students, convened at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the 50th anniversary year of Bands of America Grand National Championship. Giants of the high school marching band world, with years of competition dominance, and small newcomer bands displayed their talents to the judges. Energetic audiences reacted with standing ovations for every band. The band community sees this annual event as a showcase and celebration, in addition to it being the highest level of competition. One of the smallest bands traveled 4000 miles from Kenai, Alaska. They stole hearts and were awarded the annual Esprit de Corps Award. 

Considered a mid-sized band, yet still competing with the largest in the country, Wando Marching Band includes 182 student musicians and Color Guard. One thing that makes Wando unique is the inclusion of middle school students. Wando Band welcomes musicians and Color Guard candidatesfrom feeder middle schools: Cario, Laing, and Moultrie. This year, the Band is comprised heavily of middle schoolers and freshmen, totaling 43% of the total Band membership. Wando’s model is different from the largest nationally-competitive bands, some with up to 400 members, who only allow students in grades 10 through 12 to be part of their competitive programs. 

With fewer students, younger students, and a smaller budget, Wando still managed to achieve what seemed like a dream back in July. Before traveling to Bands of America Grand Nationals, the Wando Band has already experienced two major successes. In October, they earned the Bands of America Carolina Regional Championship. Earlier in November, they also earned the program’s 16th SCBDA State Marching Band Championship. Local and Regional successes don’t always translate into national success. Unlike Texas and Indiana, South Carolina isn’t known as a hotbed of nationally-competitive band programs. Two other South Carolina bands were part of the 108 attending Grand National: Dorman High School Marching Band and Nation Ford High School Marching Band. Both had impressive performances. Nation Ford also earned a spot in the 36 Semi-finalist Bands. 

After Wando’s strong first round Preliminary Performance Thursday night, they earned a second performance, by being selected as a Semi-finalist. Along with 35 other bands, the field of competitors had been narrowed, and they would all compete their shows again.

To prepare for the Semi-finals Performance, students, staff, and volunteers hit the ground at 2:00AM, Saturday. Warm-ups and rehearsals helped them refine details of the show and calm their nerves. Directors Bobby Lambert, Lanie Radecke, and Matthew Kilby reminded students to focus, apply the corrections, and trust their training, all of which had brought them to this unique opportunity. Their last encouragement was, “Enjoy the run!”. 

Wando’s Semi-finals Performance concluded with a brief, joy-filled celebration. Students congratulated one another on the field for about 10 seconds. It was then time to focus on what could become another chance to perform, if their performance would stand up and be included in the top 12.

36 bands would be narrowed to the top 12, in no particular order, to compete in Finals Competition Saturday afternoon. The crowd in Lucas Oil Stadium sat quietly but ready to cheer, in anticipation of the results. One perennial favorite after another was called and would compete again in Finals. Most Finalist bands’ names were associated with long histories as national title holders. 11 of the 12 Finalists bands had been called, and finally, the name that all of Charleston County and South Carolina had awaited, “WANDO!”. Wando Marching Band, called last, was set to compete first in Bands of America Grand Nationals Finals, just a few hours after the announcement. 

Wando is a small, confident, prepared band, with encouraging staff, and die-hard volunteers. They never assumed being called last meant that would ultimately be their placement after the final bands 12 competed. 

Wando went through their pre-performance routine for the last time. Students were focused and ready to let the show flow. They took the field first of the twelve bands competing in Finals. 

This would be the very last performance of this show, ever. From 7th graders to Seniors, this was it. They were in it together. Every hot day, every blister, every sunburn, every rainy day, every uniform fitting, every meal on the run, every lost hour of sleep, every travel change, every lost earbud, every broken or mal-functioning prop, every volunteer hour, every ride to rehearsal, it all came down to this. This band performed its best run of the show in Finals Competition. They knew they had done all they could. It was in the judges’ hands. 

After all 12 Finalists had performed, Lucas Oil Stadium field was filled with every student who competed in Finals. From end zone to end zone, in every imaginable uniform color, there were smiles on every face. Every spectator reflected those smiles, blended with a healthy dose of happy tears. Each student, each band, had already achieved something very few have. It’s an elite group and Wando Marching Band, rightfully, stands among them. 

The lights dimmed, the spotlights circled, and the announcer began. Wando’s show entitled “We Are Such Stuff” moved the audience and the judges, during their three Grand Nationals performances and was ultimately awarded 11th Place. It was a victory! It’s the determination, grit, and talent of 182 Charleston County School District students, guided by imaginative, thoughtful, experienced, and encouraging staff who have built this program into one that is always a threat to compete at the highest levels in the state, region, and the nation. 

The celebration was uncontainable! Students and fans were overwhelmed by what they had accomplished and the journey that brought them into historic greatness, standing side-by-side with other long-successful programs.

Charleston County School District Superintendent, Anita Huggins, has enjoyed following and encouraging the students during this historic season, “The Wando Band has, once again, shown what passion, hard work, and unity can accomplish. To finish 11th in the nation at Grand Nationals is an incredible achievement, and I am immensely proud of our students, Mr. Lambert, and the entire Wando team. Their commitment to excellence inspires our entire community.”.

Thank you for including these images in your publication of this good news. The images are owned by the Bands of Wando Booster Association and are from the Bands of America Grand National Championship. Should you need larger sized files, please be in touch.