San Antonio Marching Band Wins $20K in Metallica’s Competition

Talk about a major win! A high school marching band from San Antonio has just made history by taking home the grand prize in a national competition hosted by the legendary rock band Metallica.

Sotomayor High School from Northside ISD is now officially rocking in the large high school category!

TAKING HOME A HEFTY PRIZE

Winning this competition comes with a hefty prize of $20,000 to help the band purchase new musical equipment. This is an incredible opportunity for the students to enhance their sound and keep the music alive in their program.  

The competition, called “For Whom the Band Tolls,” challenged bands to infuse Metallica’s epic songs into their performances, and Sotomayor didn’t hold back. Their show, titled Master of Puppets, featured classics like "Nothing Else Matters" and "Master of Puppets."

MORE DUBS FROM TEXAS!

Texas schools really brought their A-game this year. Seven Lakes High School in Katy snagged second place, while Richland High School in North Texas took third. The Lone Star State is proving that it knows how to rock!

This isn’t the first time a San Antonio school has rocked their way into the winner's circle. Last year, Boerne High School’s marching band tied for first place, winning $15,000 in the medium-high school category. It’s amazing to see the continued success of local marching bands in this awesome competition.

COLLEGES CAN COMPETE TOO!

The competition isn't just for high schools; the deadline for college bands to submit their entries has been extended through November 2025.

To see Sotomayor High School’s winning performance, check out the video below.