Metallica, courtesy.

Metallica on Monday announced the winners of its scholastic marching band competition, which it launched in April 2023. There were five winners chosen by the band and two by popular vote, with none from California. Each winning school will receive music instruments and equipment for their programs, provided by Metallica and numerous brand sponsors like TAMA, Zildjian and ProMark.

In the College (Division 1) category, Auburn University won $75,000 worth of prizes. In the College (Divisions 2 and 3) category, Eastern New Mexico University won $40,000. Four winning high schools were selected, each of which won $15,000 in prizes: Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tenn.; Boerne High School in Boerne, Tex.; Malverne High School in Malverne, N.Y.; and Oakton High School in Vienna, Va.

The fan vote winners won $10,000 in prizes. Fans again picked Auburn University as well as Dobyns-Bennett High School.

The Metallica Marching Band Competition gave schools access to a library of marching band charts for Metallica songs. More than 450 colleges and high schools throughout the U.S. applied to the contest. The field was narrowed down to five finalists in each category by professional judges, and the band picked the winners. Metallica has pledged to make the contest an annual event.

Bay Area entrants included San Jose State University, Granada High School in Livermore, Pittsburg High School, Santa Cruz High School and Terra Nova High School in Pacifica.

Click the school names above to see the winners’ performances, and see Auburn’s below.