The BOA Northeast Ohio Reginal Championship is officially in the books. Groups from all over the Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and even Georgia came together in Canton to give their all on the field, and used the fire beats, hot horn licks, and sizzling guard moves to drive the northern chill away. 

Ola HS all the way from McDonough, GA was the first group to take the field in finals competition with their show entitled “Chameleon.” The show was full of memorable moments including clarinet, flute and saxophone features, a funky breakdown Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon”, and sound effects that placed you deep in the heart of the jungle. The most impressive moment, however, was when the backfield props of varying shades of green were turned around to reveal eyes staring at the audience against the scaled skin of all shades of the rainbow, really bringing the Chameleon theme full circle.

Moon Area performing at the 2018 BOA Northeast Ohio Regional

Up next was Moon Area HS from Coraopolis, PA presenting their show “A Time For Everything.” Their production ran through various important moments in a person’s life such as a time for mourning, a time for hate, and a time for war and peace. A pre-recorded voice-over along with the guard helped bring this theme to life showing members wearing black mourning veils and fighting amongst one another.        

Norton HS of Norton, OH was third to perform in finals presenting their show “The True Measure.” This production revolved thematically around what it means to be a good person, and how to go about being just that. The curious feel given by the opening music along with a clarinet/trumpet feature really drove home the “what does it mean to be good’ aspect of the start of the show. Other memorable moments included a beautiful bassoon solo and a ribbon feature from one of the guard members.

Fairfield HS from Fairfield, OH broke out next with their show entitled “The Rock,” which chronicled the story of a prison inmate at Alcatraz prison in San Francisco. Various props helped place the audience in the scene, including front sideline covers resembling docks, a guard tower, as well as the color guard dressed like prisoners complete with bright orange inmate garb. This show truly had audiences on the edge of their seats with its tense music and siren sound effects throughout, contrasting softer moments such as the ballad which included a baritone/French horn duet.

Dublin, Ohio’s Dublin Coffman HS took to the field next with their show called “Dancing Through Darkness and Light.” Placed around the field were several flower pod-shaped props that were opened throughout the show revealing brightly colored “pedals.” Inside some of the pods were members who performed features, including an oboe player whose solo started the show. Dublin Coffman’s show started with lots of energy and maintained it through their performance, which even had a Mediterranean vibe during a section of the opener. The mood became even more uplifting during the second movement with the guard used flags with images of the sun and sunrays to complement the colorful pedal props that were placed into the shapes of flowers. The sunny imagery helped to keep the audience warm against the cold fall night.

Kiski Area HS from Vandergrift, PA followed with their show “Out of the Blue.” Kiski evoked ethereal feelings with their opener, before breaking into a funky yet jazzy cover of “Rhapsody in Blue.” Cloud shaped props on the backfield as well as band members occasionally acting as if they were searching the sky also played into this wondrous “lost in the clouds” motif. A beautiful flute solo was performed while the band played “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and a guard member wandered around the field with a blue umbrella, bringing the blue, cloudy theme full circle. At the end of the show during a high energy trumpet solo, the cloud props were turned around to reveal they have been designed with all the colors of the rainbow, bringing the crowd to their feet and helping Kiski earn their championship score.

Norwin HS out of Irwin, PA came on the field to perform their show called “Baroque-N” and it very much featured  the music styles of its title. The field was dressed to resemble a cathedral complete with columns, an altar, and heart-shaped harps. The story follows a bride who is left at the altar and her journey to fix her broken spirit. The music using many elements popular form the baroque style, including the clavichord, throughout the show, and take “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga and gives it a Baroque twist. The music also alternates between angry energy and a sorrowful, heartbroken atmosphere to match that of the bride. But not to worry, she eventually finds love and has a happy ending!

Norwin performing at the 2018 BOA Northeast Ohio Regional

Kettering Fairmont HS from Kettering, OH was next up, performing their production “The Edge Of Imagination.” The band starts with a rendition of “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, as they stand grouped up around four prop skyscrapers placed at the corners of the field. The show was distinct for its heavy, deep sound that came from its large low brass section, which included thirteen sousaphone players! “The Edge of Imagination” also featured a sax solo that was accompanied by a beautifully melodic front ensemble piece, leading to an oboe joining the sax to make a duet. The show ended with a powerful battery feature where the drumline all wore VR goggles as we entered a world of virtual reality set to the music of Ready Player One.

Kettering Fairmont at the 2018 BOA Northeast Ohio Regional

In fitting fashion with the cold and dreary night, Henry Clay HS from Lexington, KY brought an eerie and ghostly ambiance to the field with their production “The Bell Tower.” As the name implies, the show heavily featured chimes throughout to imitate the sound of church bells ringing. Small bell-shaped props and a large bell tower towards the back half of the field further drove this theme home for audiences. The feel piece changed throughout from a fast-paced opener, to a softer sad vibe in the ballad, and again to a heavy and dark atmosphere in the final movement, but an ominous mood stayed throughout, leaving audiences entertainingly spooked.

Finally, the last group of the night was Kell HS all the way from Marietta, GA performing their show “Open Your Eyes.” The show featured several large eye-shaped props placed across the back portion of the field. The band’s marching formations further played on the theme of eyes, making formations in the shape of eyes and irises several times in the show. Musically, Kell alternated between strong, powerful brass moments, and soft melodic parts, including a saxophone and trumpet feature during the ballad that plays while two guard members have a dance duet together.