NE Ohio schools in the Metallica band competition

FILE – James Hetfield of Metallica performs at the Lollapalooza Music Festival in Chicago on July 28, 2022. Metallica, Mariah Carey and The Jonas Brothers will headline a free concert in New York’s Central Park to mark the 10th anniversary of the Global Citizen Festival on Sept. 24. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)

by: Christian Meffert, Paul Kiska

Posted: Nov 18, 2023 / 07:37 AM EST

Updated: Nov 19, 2023 / 12:43 PM EST

WEST VIRGINIA, (WOWK) — Northeast Ohio rocks! Metallica is challenging schools across the nation including Ohio to show off their marching bands’ performances of Metallica’s music.

As part of the “For Whom the Band Tolls!” Metallica marching band competition, the public can vote for their favorite performances from nominated marching bands at the high school and collegiate level. Winning bands will receive musical equipment for their school programs.

Competitors are divided into five separate categories with different prizes:

Collegiate: Division 1 ($75,000 in prizing)
Collegiate: Division 2 and 3 ($40,000 in prizing)
High School: ($15,000 in prizing per sub-division)
- Small (less than 75 band members)
- Medium (between 75-124 band members)
- Large (greater than 125 band members)
Fan Favorite: Collegiate across all divisions ($10,000 in prizing)
Fan Favorite: High school ($10,000 in prizes)

After five finalists are chosen at the high school and collegiate levels from states across the country, by a panel of judges, Metallica themselves will select the final prize winners for each category. The fan favorite categories are decided by fan vote.

Nominated schools from the Buckeye State include several marching bands from NE Ohio!