Oologah High School Band Is Finalist In National Metallica Competition

It's time for the Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Porch! The Oologah High School band is a finalist in the national Metallica band competition.

News On 6's Tess Maune was joined by the high school band co-directors, Jon Matthews and Dave Smith, as well as the students.

Related Story: Metallica Marching Band Competition Helps Generation Bond At Oologah High School

TESS: So I want to talk about the Metallica competition, and the Liberty Bowl competition. But first let's talk about Stallion Battalion and the name because it's like the best band name I have ever heard.

JON: Well, I started at Oologah, I don't know, about 20 years ago. And in our second year or so, we just had a competition. I asked the kids, I said, 'let's come up with a band name.' And that's just one that they came up with. And the kids at the time voted and that's what we went with. So yeah, it's a pretty unique band name.

TESS: So the Metallica band competition, you're all finalists in the small high school category. How did you find out about it and had you done heavy metal before?

JON: I think we were just talking about a show to do and we wanted to do something with heavy metal in music. And really, we just love the music and love Metallica. So we were going to do a show anyway like that. And then I found out about the contest, so it was just kind of bonus that we could enter that contest.

TESS: What do you get with a win?

JON: The prize if we were to win, if the Metallica band chooses us as part of the ones, then we will win about $15,000 in music equipment and in supplies. So that would be great. And then also we did the fan favorite vote. So that's a whole other contest. If we did that, we could win $10,000 in supplies.

TESS: Win or lose, the Stallion Battalion is always a consistently high performing band. Can you just talk a little bit about these students, and the band, and what it's like to have them on your on your team?

JON: I think we've got a great group of students. I mean, they're great kids. We have had a great, great run, especially this fall. So it's been a good show for us. And so we've had a good time.

TESS: So you ended the year with this Liberty Bowl, first place win. Talk about the win in the Liberty Bowl competition, what it was like, and you actually performed the Metallica song, right?

JON: Absolutely. Yeah, we got to march. Well, we went to Memphis, Tennessee for the Liberty Bowl and participated in that contest. We won so that means we're selected to march in pregame at the August AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

TESS: What's next for the band?

JON: Well onto concert season now. So we'll learn to play music and go for the rest of the year.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Stallion Battalion.