When heavy metal comes to mind, a marching band may not be the first association, but that perception might change after witnessing the remarkable performance by DeWitt High School’s marching band.

The band’s rendition of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” has catapulted them into the finals of the renowned heavy metal band’s contest, offering them the chance to win up to $25,000.

June Vicknair, a senior on the school’s Color Guard, expressed her astonishment, saying, “I never thought that we would be able to have an experience like this. And it’s not something a lot of kids, in general, can say, especially band kids—to say, ‘I’m a finalist in a Metallica contest’—it’s truly crazy.”

This year marks the debut of the “For Whom the Band Tolls!” contest. According to Mike Norman, DeWitt’s band director, 450 groups auditioned, and now DeWitt finds itself competing against four other schools in the medium-sized high school division.

Norman marveled at the attention their small town is receiving, stating, “I can’t believe that—one of the biggest groups in the world, right? Everybody knows them, is watching our tiny little town do their thing with our kids. I think that’s really awesome.”

He appreciated Metallica’s support for younger musicians, saying, “We work really hard and we’re trying to do cool things at a high level if we can. And so that’s just another moment, where we go, ‘all right—people are noticing this, cool things are happening here.’ I just want people to love what we’re doing. But my kids are awesome.”

The DeWitt High School Marching Band has dedicated months of preparation to this performance, starting in July. Maddie Tavelli emphasized the adaptability of marching band music, expressing her joy in playing Metallica. “I think that it really goes along with our personality that we’ve tried to build within DeWitt—just being over-the-top, really outdoing ourselves with everything.”

DeWitt stands as the sole Michigan school in the final round of the contest. Senior Color Guard member Ella Schieding reflected on the growth of everyone involved, stating, “Just looking at where everyone was in the beginning, to where everyone has ended up now, it’s just so crazy to see how much everyone has grown. And I think it would mean that much more to be able to win it.”

While Metallica ultimately decides the winner, the fan favorite is determined by the people. Voting concludes on December 31, so make sure to cast your vote. Click here or text #HSDEWITT to 833-609-0330.