Tarpon Springs band places fifth nationally in Bands of America championships

Nov. 12, 2018

Members of the award-winning Tarpon Springs Outdoor Performance Ensemble traveled to the 2018 Bands of America Grand National Championships. The ensemble was the class 2A champion and placed fifth overall in the nation. The Tarpon Springs Outdoor Performance Ensemble performed a production entitled RP1, which was inspired by Ernest Cline’s novel “Ready Player One” that takes place in 2045.

The Grand National Championships is a Bands of America event. Preliminary rounds took place November 8-9, and the final competition will took place November 10.One hundred of the top high school marching bands in the nation compete in Preliminary competition, a minimum of 30 bands advance to the Semi-Finals and the top 12 scoring bands advance to the finals.

Tarpon Springs Outdoor Performance Ensemble has earned numerous awards. The ensemble was named 2018 Bands of America Orlando Regional Champion on Oct. 13. The ensemble was also named Outstanding Music Performance, Outstanding Visual Performance and Outstanding General Effect. The ensemble is the Bands of America 2014 Grand National Champion and 2017 Atlanta Super Regional Champion. The Tarpon Springs Outdoor Performance Ensemble placed fifth in the finals.