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Marching Band Competitions 

General Information - SCBDA & Bands of America

South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA)

Website: https://www.bandlink.org/

 

Some competitions are sanctioned by the SCBDA. This includes the SC 5A competition that we host, and the SC 6A State Finals that we participate in.

 

Marching Objectives & Standards

The following information provides both aims / objectives of SCBDA – sponsored marching band events and the National and State standards met through participation.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 

  1. To stimulate interest in the highest quality of musicianship in marching band.

  2. To provide directors and students an opportunity to hear and see bands other than their own.

  3. To promote statewide interests in bands and band activities.

  4. To enable bands to receive constructive criticism from qualified adjudicators.

  5. To select the official SCBDA State Champions in each of the 6 school classifications.

  6. To provide the most prestigious recognition possible for outstanding achievement in the marching band idiom.

 

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SCBDA Marching Band Contests - Judging / Scoring Sheets

Scoring Sheets can be located on the SCBDA website if anyone is interested in the scoring criteria. Bands are judged on the following:

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The website https://www.bandlink.org/ is the best place to locate all information regarding these competitions.

Bands of America (BOA)

Website: http://www.musicforall.org/what-we-do/boa-marching-championships/boa-marching-championships

 

Bands of America is a part of an organization known as Music for All. More than 1 million people are alumni of Bands of America marching band events, the first of which were held in 1976. Bands of America was created in 1976 as "Marching Bands of America" (MBA), renamed Bands of America (BOA) in 1984 and merged with the Music for All Foundation in 2006 to create Music for All. MFA’s marching band events continue to carry the name of "Bands of America."

BOA events include one day ‘regionals’, two day ‘super regionals’ and the BOA Grand National Championships which are held each year in Indianapolis, IN.

 

1. BOA Classification of Bands - How are the bands “classified?”

Bands are classified by school enrollment, grades 10-12 only. Under the four-class system:

  • Class A is up to 600 students

  • Class AA is 601-1200

  • Class AAA is 1201-1700

  • Class AAAA is 1701 and above (Boiling Springs is a 4A band at BOA

 

2. Tickets

BOA competitions consist of two sets of performances: Prelims and Finals. When a band does well in the prelims, they will also compete in the Finals. Tickets can be purchased three ways: 

  • Prelims only (prices range from $20 and up at Regionals)

  • Finals only (prices range from $20 and up at Regionals)

  • Day Pass - Day Pass tickets include entry for BOTH Prelims and Finals. (prices range from $40 and up at Regionals)​ 

 

3. What to Expect?

The final scores/results are tabulated by competition judges, who are chosen for their high level of expertise. The weight of the numbers places 60% of the value on music and 40% on visual, as well as 60% on general effect and 40% on performance. Each judge is assigned a specific area on which he or she focuses. Ensemble and general effect judges are located at a vantage point from above (i.e. press box), and individual performance judges are located on the field.

 

Prelims:

There will be an awards ceremony immediately following the prelim competition. The awards are for:

  1. Music Performance (each class)

  2. Visual Performance (each class)

  3. General Effect (each class)

  4. Place in Class (each class)

  5. Place Overall

 

  • If our band does not make it to the finals, we would typically load the buses and return home.

  • If our band does make the finals, they wait to find out what time they will perform that evening, and return to the staging area to prepare.  Parents will be notified of the performance time as soon as it is announced.

 

Please note that after the preliminary awards ceremony is over, it will be necessary for everyone to leave the stadium and return for the finals competition. Most families use this time to eat dinner, but band students must remain with the band.

 

Finals:

After all bands have performed in the finals, the bands will all re-enter the stadium field (at the same time) for what is referred to as the ‘retreat’. When all of the bands are in place, the awards ceremony will begin. At the completion of the awards ceremony, the announcer will allow the finalists to “break ranks” in order to congratulate each other for their successes.

 

Buses will then be loaded for the trip home. It is usually very late when the band arrives at the school.

 

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