Amber Open Skies, a band comprised of four Coppell High School juniors, is one of 50 bands in the country chosen as a semi-finalist in the School Jam USA 2009 Battle of the Bands competition.

Amber Open Skies, which is formerly known as The Afterparty, is one of 10 bands chosen to represent the Southwest Region of the country and is competing to win one of 10 finalist spots.

Two bands from each of the country’s five regions will be selected to compete as a finalist in a live competition in January in Anaheim, Calif., based on daily online voting from Nov. 1 to Dec. 5.

If Amber Open Skies makes it to the finals, then the Coppell High School music program also will win prize money ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Amber Open Skies band members include guitarist and lead vocalist Chris Teel, drummer and back-up vocalist Tyler Murray, guitarist and vocalist Daniel Moomau and bass guitarist Ryan Williams.

“We are very excited to be chosen from the many talented bands that entered from across the country,” Teel said. “We love writing and playing our own music and this is a great way to showcase it.”

The competition is open to bands whose members are between the ages of 13 and 18 and are currently registered to a high school in the U.S. and to bands which have never been signed to a music label.

Only original music is allowed in the competition and Amber Open Skies submitted three of its songs, including “Volatile,” “Speak” and “Haptic.”

Amber Open Skies members are requesting help from their fans and Coppell residents to vote once daily so that they can make it to the finals.

“The Coppell community has always strongly supported the Coppell music program and this is just one more way to show that spirit and possibly win money for the program at the same time,” Teel said.

To vote, visit http://namm.promo.eprize.com/schooljamusa/.