![Kirk Hammett (Left) and James Hetfield (Right) of Metallica performs onstage at Zilker Park during Austin City Limits 2018 Weekend One. AUSTIN^ TX / USA - OCTOBER 5th^ 2018](https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/709/2024/06/21084058/Shutterstock_11988736276755-250x250.webp)
Metallica announced the second annual Metallica Marching Band Competition, presented by Metallica in partnership with Sweetwater. The first Metallica Marching Band Competition saw nearly 500 colleges and high schools across the US create exciting, dynamic and unique performances of Metallica music while vying for prizes valued at nearly $200,000
This year, the competition will offer competing bands three times as many chances to win. Each of the five original categories—College (Division 1), College (Divisions 2 & 3), High School (Large), High School (Medium) and High School (Small)—has now been expanded to include awards for first, second and third place, with winners in each category ultimately selected by the members of Metallica.
Year two of the Metallica Marching Band Competition will also feature the return of the Fan Favorite award, this time for a single outstanding performance to be decided by popular vote. Fan Favorite voting opens December 1st and closes December 31st.
Sign-ups are open at metallicamarchingband.com through the week of September 23rd, with submissions due the week of November 25th. Winners in all categories will be announced at a date to be determined in early January 2025. All competing schools will have access to free sheet music for 13 Metallica songs.
For further information, go to metallicamarchingband.com.
Editorial credit: Ismael Quintanilla III / Shutterstock.com