Twenty-five high school marching bands from eight different states converged on Cass High School north of Atlanta on Saturday, November 1st, for the prestigious Bands of America (BOA) Southeastern Regional competition. In a stunning display of regional excellence, bands from the local area secured three of the top four spots, with Catawba Ridge High School claiming the coveted Regional Champion title.
Prelims Pave the Way for Finals
The day began with morning and afternoon preliminary performances, with all 25 bands competing across four classes (1A-4A) based on school enrollment. The top 12 scoring bands, regardless of class, earned a spot in the evening finals.
Area bands demonstrated their readiness early on:
- Catawba Ridge High School delivered a flawless preliminary performance in Class 2A, sweeping the class awards by earning Best Music Performance, Best Visual Performance, and Best Overall Effect, securing their spot in the finals.
- In the highly competitive Class 3A, Fort Mill High School earned awards for Best Music Performance and Best Visual Performance, finishing 3rd in their class. Nation Ford High School also performed strongly, earning a berth in the finals.
- Ultimately, all three local bands successfully advanced to the final round, setting the stage for an electrifying evening.
A Dominant Finals Performance
In the evening finals, the three local powerhouses made significant moves up the leaderboard, showcasing their season’s growth and competitive spirit.
Catawba Ridge cemented its dominant performance by being named the 2025 BOA Southeastern Regional Champion. Following close behind, Nation Ford High School surged from its 4th place ranking in prelims to secure the 2nd overall position. Not to be outdone, Fort Mill High School also rose in the ranks, moving past the prelims Class 3A champion, Harrison HS (GA), to finish 4th overall.
The final results underlined the strength of the marching arts in the area, with three of the top four ensembles hailing from the local area.
2025 BOA Southeastern Regional Finals Standings (Top 12)
| Rank | Band | State |
| 1 | Catawba Ridge HS | SC |
| 2 | Nation Ford HS | SC |
| 3 | Lambert HS | GA |
| 4 | Fort Mill HS | SC |
| 5 | Kennesaw Mountain HS | GA |
| 6 | Harrison HS | GA |
| 7 | Collierville HS | TN |
| 8 | Hillgrove HS | GA |
| 9 | Cass HS | GA |
| 10 | Bassett HS | VA |
| 11 | Christian Co. HS | KY |
| 12 | Hardin Valley HS | TN |
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