McLean High School's Highlander Marching Band Wins First Place in Class in Oakton Classic

McLean High School’s Highlander Marching Band won first place in Class 5A at the Oakton Classic competition Saturday and second place in the overall competition, according to a news release from the band.

McLean’s competitive show this year is titled “Pure Imagination,” an exciting medley of childhood fantasy favorites including “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Pure Imagination,” “Flight of the Bumblebee” and Danny Elfman’s “Ice Dance” from Edward Scissorhands.

The Oakton Classic was McLean’s second competition of this season. Last week, the Highlander Marching Band advanced in the final round at the prestigious Bands of America Regionals competition in Monroeville, Pa.

The marching band will compete in two more events this season: a U.S. Bands competition in Winchester on Oct. 11 and another Bands of America competition at the University of Delaware on Oct. 25.

The Highlander Marching Band can also be seen performing at the next home football games on Friday and homecoming Oct. 17.

McLean’s nationally-acclaimed program is made up of three concert bands, two jazz ensembles, three winter guards, two percussion ensembles, and the Highlander Marching Band. They all perform regularly in the region and across America.

Recent honors include the featured performance at the 2011 Virginia Music Educators Conference, eight first place awards in the 2011 and 2013 national WorldStrides Heritage Festivals in Boston and New York, and three first place awards in the 2012 OrlandoFest Competition at Universal Studios.

McLean has received the Sousa Foundation’s top International Sudler Flag of Honor and was also featured at the 2006 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. The Symphonic Band and Percussion Ensembles from McLean are the only groups in the country that have been featured at the Music for All National Festival four times and will make their fifth appearance this coming March in Indianapolis.

The Winter Guards are regular finalists and placed first in the 2012 Atlantic Indoor Association’s Regional Championship. The Highlander Marching Band is a twelve-time Bands of America Regional Finalist. The Directors of the McLean Band Program are Chris Weise and Deidra Denson. For more information, please visit their website at www.mcleanband.com.

PHOTO: The Highlander Marching Band performs; photo courtesy of Highlander Marching Band