Neither heat nor rain could keep the Tupelo High School Varsity Marching Band from practicing every day for the Bands of America competition in Indianapolis.

“BOA stands for Bands of America,” explained band director Timothy Matlock. “BOA is what we consider the Super Bowl Championship for high school bands. It is usually the elite that get to go to participate.”

BOA is a competition for high school bands all across the country. Because this is the first year THS Band has ever competed in something this huge,  things were run a bit differently.

“This year we are going to work smarter,” Matlock said. “Everyone is going to be held accountable for learning their music and drill, and sectionals are now one day a week.”

The THS Band attended BOA Oct. 23-24 at the Lucas Oil stadium.

“There is only one school from Mississippi for the Indianapolis show that we’re going to,” Matlock said. “The only Mississippi school that goes to the Grand National Championship is DeSoto Central, and they’re the only ones who are consistently going over the past four-five years. Before that, a long, long time ago, Pearl High School and Grenada have been.”

BOA competitions are held all over the country.

“Usually there are about six to eight,” Matlock said, with other BOAs in Texas, Missouri, California, Utah, Florida, Alabama, Ohio and Kentucky.

While the contestants perform, Matlock said three judges join the bands on the field to assess the whole band, individuals playing their music and percussion.

Even though it would be nice to win, Matlock said that’s not what this trip is all about.

“With this being our first year, we’re going more for experience than anything, so they can be exposed to see what it takes and what level you have to be at to be in that top 10 percent,” he said.

Band students had their own BOA expectations.

“I think the Tupelo Band will be fine as long as we work hard and push ourselves,” sophomore drum major Erian Watkins said. “We should do fine because we will be prepared for it.”

According to musicforall.org, THS placed 48th out of the 64 bands that competed.

“I think we did our best, but even our best isn’t at the caliber of the other BOA bands,” said senior Timmy Fortenberry, who plays the mellophone. “I was happy with our placement though, because it was better than I expected for such a prestigious competition.”