Seattle, December 16, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Rock, Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits, an award-winning gourmet pizza restaurant with a gritty rock ‘n’ roll vibe, is excited to announce South Kitsap High School as the winner of the fifth annual Schools of The Rock Battle of the Bands competition. Twenty-eight high school marching bands from across Washington and the Portland, Ore. area competed for the coveted prize based on their video renditions of classic rock ‘n’ roll hits.
Today, The Rock presented a $10,000 check to the South Kitsap High School music program for their 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
— 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 of The Rock. “Battle of the Bands is our way of supporting the programs that help shape the next generation of rockers.”
“The competition brings a lot of fun and excitement to the band programs and it’s amazing to see the great renditions they come up with,” added Jay Gigandet, CFO of The Rock.
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 ten 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.
Past Battle of the Bands winners include Puyallup High School in 2009 and 2010, Liberty High School in 2008 and Shorecrest High School in 2007.
For more information about Battle of the Bands or to donate, visit www.TheRocksBOTB.org or call (253) 987-5479. Follow Battle of the Bands on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheRockBOTB . Follow The Rock on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheRockWFP and on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TheRock .
About The Rock
The Rock, Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits first opened in 1995 as a gritty, local pizza joint in Tacoma, Wash. The unique atmosphere and gourmet pizza quickly gained recognition, leading to growth throughout the Northwest. The Rock currently operates 10 locations in Washington state and one location in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Named America’s Number One Independently Owned Pizza Chain by Pizza Today magazine in 2008, The Rock has also been recognized as Best Pizza in KING 5 Evening Magazine’s “Best of Western Washington” in 2009 and 2010. For more information about The Rock, visit www.TheRockWFP.com or call (253) 987-5479.
