News

The Rock, Wood Fired Pizza donates to high school music programs

December 18, 2011

Tacoma, Wash.-based pizzeria The Rock, Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits has awarded more than $22,000 to local high school music programs following its fifth annual Schools of The Rock Battle of the Bands competition.

South Kitsap High School beat out 27 other high school marching bands from across Washington and Oregon.

The Rock presented a $10,000 check to the South Kitsap High School music program for its winning performance of "Burning Love" by Elvis Presley. Second place, Chief Sealth High School, was awarded $5,000 and third place, Issaquah High School, received $1,000. Other winners include:

• Four runners up Rogers High School, Puyallup High School, Bellarmine Preparatory School and Bellevue High School will each receive pizza parties sponsored by Xfinity valued at $750 each;
• Three divisional winners, Puyallup High School, Lynnwood High School and Sumner High School, were awarded $1,000 each for receiving the most text votes within their division, determined by school size; and
• Bellarmine Preparatory School received $1,000 for the Best Video award.

"At The Rock, we are inspired by great music and the people that make it," said Don Bellis, co-founder and president. "Battle of the Bands is our way of supporting the programs that help shape the next generation of rockers."

In partnership with 102.5 KZOK, CBS Seattle and Xfinity, the four-month-long Schools of The Rock competition invited high school bands to participate in an online battle to see which school's video performance could tally the most votes via text message. The 10 schools with the most votes were then reviewed by a panel of celebrity judges who ranked the bands based on quality of musicianship, originality of arrangement and song choice, technical ability and overall performance.

The celebrity judges included Andy McKeag from The Presidents of the United States of America; Brad McDavid, University of Washington band leader; Keith Rousu, Seahawks Blue Thunder drum major; Stephen Radclidde, Seattle Youth Symphony music director; and Donn Bennett from Donn Bennett Drum Studios.

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