Eagles named Grand Champion at competition

The Avon Mighty Eagles Marching Band was named Grand Champion at the recent 2017 Music in Motion Ohio Music Education Association’s competition on Oct. 14 and booked their place in the state finals.

The band was honored for their performance of “Into the Wild,” which depicts the mystery, danger and wonder of exploring a jungle, according to a news release. The music for the show is an arrangement of Robert W. Smith’s “Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual,” arranged by John M. Brennan with percussion by Nicolas Merillat and drill design by Will Wells.

Aaron Jacobs, director of Avon’s marching band, said that this refreshing 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 in the release. “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.”

In addition to being named overall winner at the event at Maumee High School, the band also won Best Music in Show and in Class AA; Best Visual in Show and in Class AA and Best Color Guard in Show and in Class AA.

The Mighty Eagles scored straight “ones” across all judging categories, the highest possible rating a band can earn in an OMEA competition. The band now heads to the state finals competition in Brunswick on Nov. 4, the release said.

“The success we’re experiencing right now is the result of much more than sheer numbers, however,” Jacobs said. “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 expressed gratitude for the contributions of the band staff as well as the student leaders within the band.

“When I watch these students rehearse, their energy is infectious,” he said. “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 (Oct. 14), 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 one at the state finals competition.”