OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Northern High School Marching Band from Calvert County claimed first place in the Group IIA division at the 2024 US Bands Maryland State Championships, earning a standout score of 90.800. The victory, celebrated at the March 13 Board of Education meeting, also saw the band take home awards for Best Music, Best Visual, Best Color Guard, and Best Percussion, showcasing their all-around excellence.
The championships, held on October 26, 2024, at Stevenson University’s Mustang Stadium, brought together 25 marching bands from Maryland and Virginia for the second consecutive year. Hosted by US Bands, the event highlighted top scholastic ensembles competing across various classifications, with Northern High School emerging as a leader in the Group IIA category, defined by band size and skill level. According to the US Bands official website www.usbands.org, the Maryland-Virginia State Championships expanded its timeline this year to accommodate a full roster of performers, ensuring a balanced representation from both states.
Under the direction of Samantha Andrejcisk, with support from Assistant Director and Percussion Instructor Joe Stout and Color Guard Instructor Natalie Richardson, the Northern High School Marching Band represented Calvert County Public Schools with distinction. Their success reflects months of preparation and teamwork, earning praise from the Board of Education and Superintendent, who extended congratulations and best wishes for future achievements.
While comprehensive performer lists are not fully detailed in available public sources, the event included a mix of Maryland and Virginia bands across multiple classifications. Notably, Marriotts Ridge High School from Howard County also competed at the championships, winning the Group VA title with a score that set a school record, as reported by the Howard County Public School System news.hcpss.org. This suggests a competitive field, with Northern High School and Marriotts Ridge among the standout performers in their respective groups. US Bands organizes groups by size—ranging from Group I (smallest) to Group VI (largest)—and skill level (A Class for emerging bands and Open Class for established ones), though specific rosters beyond these highlights remain limited without official event recaps.
The Maryland-Virginia State Championships serve as a key stepping stone in the US Bands circuit, which culminates in national competitions. Northern’s sweep of caption awards underscores their dominance in musical execution, visual design, and auxiliary performance. Stevenson University, located in Owings Mills, has become a reliable venue for this event, offering a collegiate setting for high school musicians to shine, per scheduling details from www.usbands.org.
The Board of Education’s recognition on March 13 underscores the community impact of the band’s achievement.