Bands of America

Bands of America (BOA) is a music education advocacy organization and promoter of high school marching band competitions in the United States. Established in 1975 as Marching Bands of America (MBA), founder Larry McCormick's goal was to provide educational opportunities for music students nationwide. McCormick organized the first annual Summer Workshop and Festival in 1976. Renamed Bands of America in 1984, the organization became an independent, tax-exempt entity in 1988. In 2006, Bands of America merged with the Music for All Foundation, a music education advocacy organization, becoming the flagship program of the combined organization. Bands of America has received numerous awards from IFEA.

Marching Bands of America / Bands of America has conducted high school marching band contests including a national competition -- called the "Grand National" championship -- in every year since 1976 (except 2020, when all previously announced BOA competitions, including the Grand National Championship, originally scheduled for November 12–14, were cancelled in response to the coronavirus pandemic.) Since 1980, these events are conducted between September and November, culminating in the Grand Nationals, which have been held since 1989 in Indianapolis, Indiana and since 2008 specifically at Lucas Oil Stadium. From 1980 to 1989, Bands of America also hosted an annual Summer National Championship.

Since 1975, Bands of America's various programs, services and events have served approximately 1.75 million music students. Approximately 450,000 spectators attend Bands of America championships every year. The adjudication manual and contest procedures utilized by Bands of America have been licensed to or adopted by other organizations. As a result, Bands of America sets standards for adjudication and competitive attributes of marching band competitions throughout the United States.

The Bands of America Honor Band will participate in the 2026 Rose Parade on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California.

History

Larry McCormick established Marching Bands of America in 1975 as a subsidiary of McCormick's Enterprises, a music education supplies company. The Honor Band of America's first performance was at the 1992 National Concert Band Festival established by Bands of America to rekindle the "concert band tradition in America as exemplified by the National Band Contest in the 1930s." The Honor Orchestra of America premiered at the National Concert Band Festival in 2005, launching the Orchestra of America program.

In 2006, Bands of America merged with the Music for All Foundation, a music education advocacy organization. Bands of America became a subsidiary of Music For All, and its flagship program, with L. Scott McCormick becoming the combined organization's CEO. Other programs operated by Bands of America, such as Orchestra and Honor Band of America, have been operated directly by Music for All since 2007.

IFEA recognition

From 1989 to 2006, Bands of America was recognized by the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) for excellence in promotional materials design and television production:

2006 – Recognition with seven Pinnacle Awards for promotional materials design, television production, and event promotion.

Championship system

All Bands of America championship events are open to all high school bands based in the United States on a first come first serve basis. There are no qualifications or prerequisites for participation. However, the Bands of America system is highly competitive. Bands receive a score which determines class rank and placement. Announcements place more emphasis on rankings between bands, such as advancing to the final round, versus a score. Promotional materials and programs often include essays on education philosophy and pedagogy from prominent music educators which highlight the festival atmosphere of each championship event, as well as exploring concepts such as the pursuit of excellence, and individual growth and achievement through competition. Spectators are encouraged to give each band participating in the final round a standing ovation.

Many bands have competed at championship events every year since 1978, such as Marian Catholic High School. Approximately 450,000 music students and their families, music educators, and spectators attend Bands of America championships every year.

All 2020 Regional Championships were cancelled on July 21, 2020.

All 2020 Super Regional Championships were cancelled on July 21, 2020. and Lucas Oil Stadium is also the site of the annual Indiana State School Music Association marching band championships. The Atlanta Super Regional Championship ended in 2017.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

! style="min-width: 8em;" |2003

! style="min-width: 8em;" |2004–2010

! style="min-width: 8em;" |2011–2017

! style="min-width: 8em;" |2018–present

| colspan="4" |Alamodome

| colspan="3" |The Dome at America's Center

| colspan="2" |Georgia Dome

| colspan="2"

| colspan="2" |Lucas Oil Stadium

Grand National championships

The Grand National championships are open to all high school bands. There are no qualifications or prerequisites for participation; a standard established by Larry McCormick at the first Summer Workshop and Festival in 1976. The format and terms for advancing to the semifinal and final competitions have changed since its inception.

, Grand Nationals are open to as many as 112 bands, with performances taking place over three days. All bands participate in a preliminary competition, split between two rounds. The highest scoring bands from each preliminary advance to a semifinal competition, and the twelve highest scoring bands advance to the final round. Class champions (A, AA, AAA, and AAAA) are announced following the semifinal, and the Grand National Champion is announced after the final.

The 2020 Grand National Championships were cancelled on July 21, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Championships returned to a normal schedule in 2021. Bands that have received the trophy have nicknamed the eagle 'Kevin.'

Past National venues

From 1976 to 1979, Grand National Championships occurred in June. From 1980 onward, championships occurred in November. The June event was relaunched as the Summer National Championship which continued until 1989.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

!Year

!Grand National Championships

!Year

!Summer National Championships

|1976–1979

|Warhawk Stadium

| colspan="2"

|1980

|Gator Bowl Stadium

| rowspan="5" |1980–1989

| rowspan="5" |Warhawk Stadium

|1981–1983

|Memorial Center

|1984–1986

|Hoosier Dome

|1987–1988

|Pontiac Silverdome

| rowspan="2" |1989–2007

| rowspan="2" |RCA Dome

| colspan="2" rowspan="2"

|2008–present

|Lucas Oil Stadium

Future Grand National dates

Dates for Grand Nationals have been announced up to 2028, with all events scheduled to take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on the second weekend of November each year."

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

! style="width: 10em;" |Date

!Venue

| rowspan="4" |Lucas Oil Stadium

Classification and adjudication

Available classes

Participating bands are assigned to a competitive classes based on their school's enrollment (grades 10 through 12). Classes are used to determine preliminary placements and awards and are not announced to the judges or audience with the intention to not influence scoring. The top twelve highest-scoring bands regardless of class advance to the finals performance. Class champions who do not advance to finals are invited to perform in exhibition. Bands of America attempts to keep the number of competing bands in each class, across the entire championship system, evenly distributed. Classes AA, AAA, and AAAA are realigned every three years based on data provided by participating bands. Class A's requirement of 600 or fewer enrolled students remains unchanged. The next realignment period is scheduled for 2028. The following classes are available :

{| class="wikitable"

!Class

!Enrolled students

|600 or fewer

|AA

|6011325

|AAA

|13261850

|AAAA

|1851 and above

Historic classes

Competitive classes available from 1976 to the present. Classes were realigned in 1980, 1986, and in 2009.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+Grand Nationals

!1976–1979

!1980–1985

!1986–2009

!2009–present