What is the breakdown (by class) of qualifying ensembles from Saturday's class championship to Sunday's grand championship? Thank you, in advance.

Unless anything has changed, for A/AA/AAA, it's the top 3 bands in each class, then the next 6 highest scores.

For AAAA/AAAAA, it's the top 3 bands in each class, then the next 9 highest scores.

15 bands total for each final.

For A-AA-AAA I believe it's the top 5 per class except AAA which they take top 7.

For AAAA-AAAAA its top 5 from each class, and next 5 highest scores.

Well, the 2011 Adjudication Manual from the WBA says this...



So, if it is different from that, they have some updating to do.

Last year they took the top 7 AAA bands, because it was such a large (and probably one of the more competitive classes)--there were some bands who just missed finals by tenths! This is not to say that the other classes were not competitive, because all classes are.

From the WBA Manual...

There seem to be conflicting scenarios being presented here.

I think that's an outdated version of the WBA manual. 2008, maybe?

Cough has it right... Copied from the 2011 WBA Manual:

Got the packet today here is the final answer.

SEEDING FOR COMBINED GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP – We will be advancing the top 5 bands from 1A, 2A and 3A to the combined finals. Order of appearance will be by scores to all 3 classes. We will advance the top 5 bands from 4A and from 5A as well as the next highest scoring 5 bands overall. Order of appearance will be by overall score.

Is it healthy for WBA to change their mind like that within the boundaries of the same season?

It's been the top 5 from each class for the past few years. Nothing has changed. Last year was the only year they took 7 from AAA.

Actually it is considered a mid-season change since the 2011 rulebook stated 3 from each class advance plus wildcards to fill the rest of the 15 spots.

I'm not sure I agree with the 5 from each class method for 1A-2A-3A since it has the possibility of excluding some great, deserving bands. Possibility being the keyword here.

Either method has that possibility of good bands not advancing. Using the top 5 from each class ensures that all classes will be represented equally in finals. With the previous rules not many A Class groups would advance but more AA and AAA would. This is where I think WBA really reaches out to the smaller programs.

There's an argument for and against any road WBA takes towards qualification, all of which can be validated. The issue I'm struggling with is whether or not they are amending their manual mid-season.