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Bands of America
Formation1975 (1975)
PurposeHigh School Marching Band Competitions
HeadquartersIndianapolis, Indiana, USA
Parent organization
Music for All, Inc.
Websitewww.musicforall.org
RemarksCurrent Grand National Champion (2017):
Carmel High School (Indiana)

Bands of America (BOA), a division of Music for All, is an organization that promotes and organizes marching band competitions for high school students. Competitions include both Regional and Super Regional Championships as well as the Grand National Championships. The BOA Grand National Championships is considered the largest and most prestigious national marching band event available to high school marching bands. This annual three-day competition is currently held in the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis with about 100 high school marching bands participating from around the country. More than 50,000 participants and spectators attend the event annually. No performance qualifications are required to compete.

Bands of America places the weight of the numbers in the scoring system places 60% of the value on music and 40% on visual, and at the same time, 60% of the score is within the area of general effect and 40% within the performance area. The music performance scores (individual & ensemble) are averaged for 20%, as are the visual performance scores (individual & ensemble). The general effect music scores (20% each) are added together. The general effect visual score is also 20%.[1]

In addition to marching band events, Music for All, Inc. organizes concert band festivals and symposia, musical and leadership clinics, as well as the Honor Band of America and the newly formed Jazz Band of America. One of the largest events of the year is the annual Summer Symposium, which offers a week of instruction from some of the most renowned musicians in the world. High school students from across the nation come together on the campus of Ball State University. The week includes camps for concert band, jazz band, percussion, marching band, colorguard, and the famous George N. Parks Drum Major Academy.

History of Grand National Championships

In 1976, the first Bands of America (founded in 1975 as "Marching Bands of America") marching band championship was held during the Summer National Championship in Whitewater, Wisconsin, as part of the Summer Workshop/Festival. Four years later, the first Grand National Championships (now commonly referred to as "Grand Nationals") was held at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, which was won by the J. M. Tate High School.

Beginning in 1984, the organization officially changed its name to Bands of America. In 1984, the competition was moved to Indianapolis, Indiana's Hoosier Dome (later renamed the RCA Dome). Except for 1987 and 1988, when the Grand Nationals were held in the Pontiac Silverdome, the event has remained in Indianapolis.[2]

In 2006, BOA merged with Music for All Foundation to create Music for All, Inc. Bands of America is used as the organization name for all marching band competitions through the Music for All, Inc.[3]

With the start of the 2008 marching season, the Grand National Championships has been held in the Lucas Oil Stadium located immediately south of the former site of the RCA Dome. Fans and competitors who were previously thrilled by the sight of the dome's roof appearing on the city's skyline were disappointed to learn of its deflation and subsequent demolition which allowed for the expansion to the Indiana Convention Center and the construction of Lucas Oil Stadium. The expansion has ultimately benefited the competition's student workshops and various demonstrations held there during the Grand National Championships.[4]

At, the 2016 BOA Grand National Championships, Carmel High School from Carmel, Indiana, and Avon High School from Avon, Indiana, both tied scores with a 97.45. Avon took best Visual and Music but Carmel took General Effect. The rules stated that in the event of a tie the band with the higher GE score would take the lead. With Carmel taking GE, they won the 2016 BOA Grand National Championship. The rule was changed for the 2017 season that if there is a tie in the Finals of BOA Grand Nationals, a Super Regional Championship, or a Regional Championship for 1st place, both schools would be awarded the championship. Also at the 2016 Championships, two bands tied for 12th place in semifinals, so they both were accepted into Finals, raising the number of finalists that year to 13.

Headquarters

The Music for All/Bands of America headquarters is located in downtown Indianapolis at the historic Union Station. BOA's headquarters were previously located in Schaumburg, Illinois and Arlington Heights, Illinois before relocating to Indianapolis in 2003.

BOA Honor Band in the Rose Parade

Bands of America has four times (in 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2017) been invited to have an Honor Marching Band perform at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. The Parade takes place on January 1. Under the direction of George N. Parks, the former director of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Minuteman Marching Band, the first two years being present and Bob Buckner, former director of the Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, being head of the program the most recent time present, the 300-member marching band was composed of select high school band students from all 50 states. In 2009, the ensemble marched adjacent to four floats sponsored by NAMM, the International Music Products Association, which is a major sponsor of Bands of America. Each float featured a character from the TV show Sesame Street: Big Bird, Elmo, Abby, and Oscar the Grouch. Each float also carried a soloist or small ensemble that represented a different type of music. On the lead float was Bob McGrath, two backup singers, a jazz combo, and a string quartet; the next float carried a vocal soloist, the third float carried a Latin guitarist, and the final float carried a garbage can percussionist. Both the 2005 and 2009 bands played music by Gloria Estefan and "The Stars and Stripes."[5]

Honor Band of America

Formed in 1992, the Honor Band of America (HBOA) is an honor concert band assembled by BOA every year. This ensemble is formed entirely of high school students. It has risen to become one of the finest, most respected honor ensembles in the United States. Most often they have the opportunity to be the first band to play newly commissioned concert band pieces. Students may learn more and apply for the HBOA by visiting the Music for All website.[6]

Jazz Band of America

A new ensemble first launched by Music for All in 2007, the Jazz Band of America consists of high school musicians who apply by taped audition. They have the opportunity of playing with world-class jazz musicians live on stage.[7]

Past Grand National Marching Band Champions

BOA Super Regional Competition Award Ceremony, St. Louis, Missouri, 2005
From left to right: BOA Regional Finalist medal, BOA Super Regional Finalist medal, and a BOA Grand National Championships Finalist medal.

Summer National Championships

Championships By School†

School Championships Years Won
Marian Catholic (IL) 7 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1997, 2000
Carmel (IN) 4 2005, 2012, 2016, 2017
Broken Arrow (OK) 3 2006, 2011, 2015
Avon (IN) 3 2008, 2009, 2010
Plymouth-Canton (MI) 3 1990, 1991, 1999
Rocky Mount (NC) 3 1983, 1984, 1986
Lawrence Central (IN) 2 2001, 2004
Lassiter (GA) 2 1998, 2002
Live Oak H.S. (CA) 2 1976, 1978
Tarpon Springs (FL) 1 2014
The Woodlands (TX) 1 2013
L.D. Bell (TX) 1 2007
Westfield (TX) 1 2003
Lake Park (IL) 1 1996
Center Grove (IN) 1 1995
Spring (TX) 1 1993
Centerville (OH) 1 1992
Norwin (PA) 1 1982
Chesterton (IN) 1 1981
J.M. Tate (FL) 1 1980

†excludes summer championships

Championships By State†

State Championships Most Recent
Indiana 11 2017
Illinois 8 2000
Texas 4 2013
California 3 1981
Oklahoma 3 2015
Michigan 3 1999
North Carolina 3 1986
Florida 2 2014
Georgia 2 2002
Ohio 1 1992
Pennsylvania 1 1982

†excludes summer championships

Records

  • The most BOA Grand National Championships won by any school is seven by Marian Catholic High School of Chicago Heights, Illinois. The band program also holds a record 20 BOA National Class Championships and an unprecedented five BOA Summer National Championships.
  • The longest consecutive and uninterrupted national championship streak is three years, held by Marian Catholic High School (1987,1988,1989) and Avon High School (2008,2009,2010). Rocky Mount High School of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, won in three consecutive appearances (1983, 1984, 1986).
  • The longest consecutive and uninterrupted summer national championship streak was five years, held by Marian Catholic High School (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988).[19]
  • The longest streak of consecutive BOA Grand National Finals appearances currently stands at 34 years, held by Marian Catholic High School (1984- ).
  • The largest scoring gap between 1st and 2nd place at BOA Grand Nationals was 5.60 set in 1988 by Marian Catholic High School over Lake Park High School. The following year the two high schools set another record [at the time] for smallest scoring gap at .3 (Marian over Lake Park).
  • The highest score ever posted in a Bands of America Event was 97.85 by Hebron High School (Carrollton, TX) at the 2015 Grand National Championship Semi-Finals.
  • The highest score at a BOA Regional Championship was by Claudia Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson High School (San Antonio, Texas) with a 96.625 at the 2017 Bands of America San Antonio, Texas Super Regional Championships.
  • In the 2016 BOA Grand National Championship Finals, the first ever tie for 1st place occurred between Carmel High School and Avon High School with a score of 97.45. Carmel High School was named the champion after breaking the tie using the higher of the two bands overall general effect score of 58.50 for Carmel vs 58.20 for Avon.
  • The smallest margin of points between 1st and 2nd place at Grand National Finals was 0.05 points, which occurred in 1990 (Plymouth-Canton Educational Park over Westfield High School (Texas)), 2001 (Lawrence Central High School over Carmel High School (Carmel, Indiana)), and 2003 (Westfield High School over Ronald Reagan High School (San Antonio, Texas)).
  • The 2001 Grand Nationals presented the closest scoring gap between several groups, with 1st (Lawrence Central High School) and 5th (Marian Catholic High School) places separated by less than 0.95 points.
  • The only two Grand Nationals "A-Class" Champions to place in the top five at Grand National Championship Finals are Danville High School of Danville, Kentucky in 1982 and Western High School of Russiaville, Indiana 1984.
  • The only band ever to win at least one regional in the past five decades (70's-present) is Norwin High School (North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania) with 25 regional wins.
  • The longest streak of winning consecutive BOA Regional Championships belongs to Centerville High School (Centerville, Ohio). The "Centerville Jazz Band" holds 8 wins from 2002-2006. They were Regional Champions at the Toledo,OH, Massilon, Ohio (twice), Pontiac, Michigan (3 times), Youngstown OH and Atlanta, Georgia Regionals.
  • 5 Class A (A-Class) bands to ever make the Grand National Championship Finals are Danville High School (Danville. Kentucky) in 1981 and 1982, Western High School (Russiaville, Indiana) in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990, Adair County High School (Columbia. Kentucky) in 1990, Jackson Academy (Jackson, Mississippi) in 1993, and Bellbrook High School (Bellbrook, Ohio) in 2000.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Adjudication Handbook". Music For All. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  2. ^ "Music for All History". Archived from the original on 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  3. ^ "Our History". Music For All. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  4. ^ "WTHR - Indianapolis News Weather -City skyline changes with RCA Dome deflation". 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
  5. ^ "The BOA Honor Band in the 2009 Rose Bowl Parade" (PDF). Music For All newsletter. 21 (1). Indianapolis, Indiana: Music For All: 16. January–February 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-30. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ http://www.musicforall.org/what-we-do/music-festivals/mfa-national-festival
  7. ^ http://www.musicforall.org/Programs/JBOA/
  8. ^ Acclaimed Tarpon High marching band claims Grand National Champi - FOX 13 News
  9. ^ http://tarponspringsband.com/marching.htm
  10. ^ Awesome Train-Inspired Marching Band Routine Won The National High School Championship - Business Insider
  11. ^ Congratulations 2012 BOA Grand National Champions | Carmel Bands
  12. ^ 2011 Grand National Championships Review
  13. ^ 2010 Grand National Championships Review
  14. ^ Avon High School named BOA champion - Local News - The Flyer Group
  15. ^ Avon Wins BOA Grand National Championships!!! | Pearl Drums
  16. ^ Communications - 2007-11 Bell Band - Grand National Champions
  17. ^ Broken Arrow HS Wins Grand Nationals | Drumline Blog
  18. ^ Yamaha Wins at 2005 Bands of America! - Marching Instruments - News & Events - Yamaha United States
  19. ^ http://www.ilmarching.com/bands_indiv.php?BandID=25
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