VA Marching Band's Metallica-Themed Performance Wins $15K Prize

VIENNA, VA — The Oakton High School Marching Cougars proved you can bring metal to marching band when it won third place in Metallica’s Inaugural Marching Band Contest and scored $15,000 worth of instruments.

The winners of the contest, announced Sunday on ESPN, were challenged "to craft the most exciting, unique, and impressive performances of Metallica's music," according to the contest's website.

Contestants were then required to submit a video of their band's performance. In all, more than 450 high schools and colleges submitted entries after the contest was announced in April.

Oakton was selected as the winner in the small high school category, according to the contest's website.

"It feels pretty awesome,” band director Jamie VanValkenburg told WTOP in an interview. "The kids are pumped. The community, school and band parents are really pumped. It was such a group effort to put it together that we’re all just ecstatic."

According to WTOP, VanValkenburg and his music arranger, Kent Baker, created a Metallica-themed performance called "Parade to Black." The performance featured renditions of Metallica classics including "The Unforgiven," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Turn the Page," "Enter Sandman" and "The Memory Remains."

Watch the band's performance below.

Oakton was selected as one of five finalists in December.

According to the contest's website, high school and collegiate winners were narrowed down by professional judges, while members of Metallica selected the final winners.

"It’s a big deal for our band and community,” VanValkenburg told WTOP. "I have great students. They want to be good, they’re willing to work hard."

Here's the full list of contest winners:

• Collegiate - Division 1: Auburn University
• Collegiate - Division 2/3: Eastern New Mexico University
• High School - Small: Oakton High School
• High School - Medium: Boerne High School, Texas; Malverne High School, New York
• High School - Large: Dobyns-Bennett High School, Tennessee
• Fan Favorite - Collegiate: Auburn University
• Fan Favorite - High School: Dobyns-Bennett High School, Tennessee

Watch all submissions online.