Bands of America
Bands of America (BOA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes high school music education in the United States. Specifically, BOA organizes many marching band competitions for high school students, including regional and national events. Its largest event is the Grand National Championships, an annual competition which has been held since 1984 in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, attracting many of the best high school marching bands in the country, although no performance qualifications are required to attend.
In addition to marching band events, BOA also organizes concert band festivals and symposiums, musical and leadership clinics, and the Honor Band of America.
In 1976, the first Bands of America marching band championship was held-the Summer National Championship in Whitewater, WI, part of the Summer Workshop/Festival. In 1980, the first BOA Grand National Championships was held at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, FL., which was won by J.M. Tate High School and received the name "Show Band of the South". In 1984, the Grand National Championships for Bands of America was moved to Indianapolis, IN into the Hoosier Dome. Grand Nationals was held in the Pontiac (MI) Silverdome in 1987 and 1988. Since the RCA Dome will be demolished in 2008, it is unclear whether the event will be held in the new Lucas Oil Stadium.
Past Grand Nationals Champions
- 2005 - Carmel High School, IN
- 2004 - Lawrence Central High School, IN
- 2003 - Westfield High School, TX
- 2002 - Lassiter High School, GA
- 2001 - Lawrence Central High School, IN
- 2000 - Marian Catholic High School, IL
- 1999 - Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, MI
- 1998 - Lassiter High School, GA
- 1997 - Marian Catholic High School, IL
- 1996 - Lake Park High School, IL
- 1995 - Center Grove High School, IN
- 1994 - Marian Catholic High School, IL
- 1993 - Spring High School, TX
- 1992 - Centerville High School, OH
- 1991 - Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, MI
- 1990 - Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, MI
- 1989 - Marian Catholic High School, IL
- 1988 - Marian Catholic High School, IL
- 1987 - Marian Catholic High School, IL
- 1986 - Rocky Mount Senior High School, NC
- 1985 - Marian Catholic High School, IL
- 1984 - Rocky Mount Senior High School, NC
- 1983 - Rocky Mount Senior High School, NC
- 1982 - Norwin High School, PA
- 1981 - Chesterton High School, IN
- 1980 - Tate High School, FL
Summer National Championships
- 1988 - Marian Catholic High School, IL
- 1987 - Marian Catholic High School, IL
- 1986 - Marian Catholic High School, IL
- 1985 - Marian Catholic High School, IL
- 1984 - Marian Catholic High School, IL
- 1983 - University High School, WA
- 1980 - James B. Conant High School, Hoffman Estates, IL
- 1979 - Sylva-Webster High School, NC
- 1976 - Live Oak High School Emerald Regime, Morgan Hills, CA