This past month, the Ponte Vedra High School marching band, Ocean of Sound, won the Grand Champion title in two different FMBC Regional Band competitions for the first time in the school’s history.
Featuring its 2017 show, “Jack,” Ocean of Sound placed first against 11 other bands at Middleburg High School’s Echoes of Excellence competition on Sept. 30. The Ocean of Sound Color Guard also earned the Best in Class honor at Middleburg in the 4A Class—a first-time honor for the color guard.
“To receive Best in Class as a color guard would have been out of reach for us last year,” Auxiliary Director Lauren Nock said. “The students are extremely hard-working, and though we are small, we are powerful. Watching the color guard be awarded at Middleburg for their efforts was a really sweet moment.”
Two weeks later, on Oct. 14, Ponte Vedra High again came out on top against 15 bands at the Golden Eagle Classic at Fleming Island High School. In the preliminary round, the Ocean of Sound received a Superior rating in five categories: Drum Major, Percussion, Music, Visual and General Effect. The band was awarded Best in Class in every category with a total score of 78.05, winning the 4A Class title. In the final round, Ponte Vedra again topped the competition with a score of 82.95 to take home the Grand Champion trophy.
“I could not be more proud of each and every band member,” Band Director Jermain Reynolds said. “They have played their best runs of the show at the most important moments, with emotion and commitment. It has been amazing.”
The Ponte Vedra High School Ocean of Sound will perform at the Music Performance Assessment by the Florida Bandmasters Association Festival at Bartram Trail High School on Saturday, Oct. 28, and then will compete at the 2017 FMBC State Championships on Nov. 18 in Tampa. For more information about the Ocean of Sound marching band, visit www.pvband.com.
