Two Iowa Colleges Make Finals Of Metallica Marching Band Contest

Monday morning saw the announcement from two Iowa colleges that their respective marching bands have been selected as finalists in the Metallica Marching Band contest.

Both the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band and Iowa State University Cyclone Marching Band were part of the announcement, letting them know that their bands had been selected by the group of professionals to move on to the final round of the contest in which Metallica is handing out $70,000 worth of equipment and grants to the winning program.

Both schools were selected as finalists in the Division 1 Category, alongside the University of Texas at Austin, Fresno State University, and Auburn University.

To vote for Iowa, all you have to do is text #UIOWA to (833) 609-0330

If you're more of an Iowa State fan, you can text #UIOWASTATE to vote for the Cyclones.

While you're at it, be sure to vote for Waterloo East High School in the High School category by texting #HSWATERLOOE to the same number.

Metallica has chosen 13 tracks from their catalog for the contest, including Creeping Death, Enter Sandman, Fade to Black, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Fuel, Hit the Lights, Master of Puppets, One, Sad But True, Seek & Destroy, The Unforgiven and Wherever I May Roam. It also includes their new song, Lux Æterna, from the new album 72 Seasons.

There are five categories of competition for this contest, with two collegiate winners receiving $75,000 and $40,000. Three high school winner will receive a $15,000 prize in their respective size divisions. A "fan favorite" choice from the collegiate division and high school divisions will each receive $10,000.

The winners in each category will receive a donation of instruments and equipment for their programs, from Metallica themselves and their sponsors, which include:

• Tama
• KHS America
• Zildjian
• D’Addario
• Gator
• Sweetwater