Vote to Help the University of South Dakota Win The Metallica Marching Band Competition

The band Metallica wants to find the hardest, most metal, matching band in the United States. The SOUND of USD Marching Band from the Univerisity of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota is in the running, and YOU can help them come out on top.

It's Metallica's “For Whom the Band Tolls!” marching band competition and the public has been tasked with helping to pick winners.

The winning bands will win musical equipment for their school from Metallica and their sponsors. Voting started on November 17 and the winners will be announced on January 1, 2024. (VOTE FOR USD HERE)

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Metallica wants to find the band that can rock their music the hardest. They say they want the marching bands to "...craft the most exciting, unique, and impressive" performances of Metallica's music.

USD is the only marching band from South Dakota that is in the competition. When they entered they were given access to marching band charts for Metallica songs.

Watch the video of The SOUND of USD Marching Band's entry below. They do a melody of Metallica songs including, “Hit The Lights,” “Lux Æterna,” “Fuel,” “Master of Puppets,” “One,” and “Wherever I May Roam…” They also mix in a bit of the USD fight song.

That's USD Music Education major Korbin Maertins and Music Technology major Jacob Beck on the guitars.

How Does the Metallica Marching Band Competition Work?

Winners will be chosen from five categories:

1. COLLEGIATE DIVISION 1 - $75,000 IN PRIZING
2. COLLEGIATE DIVISION 2, 3 - $40,000 IN PRIZING
3. HIGH SCHOOL:
   1. SMALL < 75 BAND MEMBERS - $15,000 IN PRIZING
   2. MEDIUM 75-124 BAND MEMBERS - $15,000 IN PRIZING
   3. LARGE 125+ BAND MEMBERS - $15,000 IN PRIZING
4. FAN FAVORITE COLLEGIATE (ACROSS ALL DIVISIONS) - $10,000 IN PRIZING
5. FAN FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL - $10,000 IN PRIZING

"High School and Collegiate winners will be narrowed down to five finalists by professional judges, furnished by Conn-Selmer. Metallica will select the final prize winners in each category. Fan Favorite winners will be the result of fan voting."

Go HERE and scroll down to vote for The SOUND of USD Marching Band. Or text #USOUTHDAKOTA to (833) 609-0330 to vote.

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