The Class of 2018 brought the first-ever Battle of the Bands fundraiser to CHS on March 17. Five bands were featured in the show, and Leah Nawy took home the gold while Slapjack won Fan Favorite.

Class of 2018 Vice President Kyle Galvin of Middletown originally proposed the event during his freshman year but Principal James Gleason rejected the proposal. The following year, the proposal was accepted, but the event was canceled due to low ticket sales, said Spanish teacher and Class of 2018 adviser Karen Britto.

Despite past cancellations, Battle of the Bands sold over 100 tickets. Tickets were sold for $6, but the price was reduced for anyone who donated a canned good to be sent to Lunch Break in Red Bank.

Juniors Shannon Damiano of Spring Lake Heights and Dylan Josephson of Lincroft hosted the event while technology teacher Laura Gesin, Mark LaRochelle and Tom Baldin served as the judges. Mark LaRochelle and Baldin were recruited from their music experience, Galvin said.

Bands in the setlist included Square One, Omerta, element 87, Leah Nawy amd Slapjack while junior Delia Noone of Middletown performed a solo with two acoustic songs that were not a part of the competition.

After listening to all of the bands perform, the audience members and judges voted for their favorite. Fan Favorite, a prize of $25 to Jack’s Music Shoppe in Red Bank, was chosen through audience ballots, and was awarded to Slapjack. The overall winner was chosen by the judges, who bestowed the title upon Leah Nawy. The band members won a $50 gift card, also to Jack’s Music Shoppe. Many of the 100 attendees were pleased with the event, including freshman Jill Tracy of Belmar.

“The event embraced the creativity of the bands that performed, and I’m glad it finally happened after all the time spent planning and organizing it. The effort went into the event was really evident, and the hosts did a great job,” Tracy said.

While the event raised around $600 for the Class of 2018 Britto said, Galvin was hoping for more.

“Overall, I’m pretty satisfied with how the event went,” Galvin said. “It wasn’t always as smooth as I had hoped, and the turnout was smaller than I’d hoped for, but I’m proud that I was able to take an idea I had early on freshmen year and keep working until I was able to make it a reality.”