No Marching Band in 2020

Topics and polls that cover the overall marching band activity

Moderators: Trumpet Man 05, malletphreak, Hostrauser, instrumental director

Post Reply
User avatar
Hostrauser
Support Staff
Support Staff
Posts: 7984
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2002 6:46 am
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Contact:

No Marching Band in 2020

Post by Hostrauser » Tue Jul 14, 2020 5:48 am

The WBA announced the cancellation of its season, joining a rapidly growing list of circuits and states around the country to have canceled the Fall 2020 marching band season.

Colorado: Colorado Bandmasters Association (CBA) has canceled all Fall 2020 Events.
Oregon: Northwest Association for Performing Arts (NWAPA) has canceled all Fall 2020 Events.
Illinois: has no state circuit, but all University-hosted field shows and all Chicago-area field shows have been canceled for 2020.
Missouri: also no state circuit, but several independent shows have already been canceled.

It seems like an inevitability at this point that there will be no marching band in Fall 2020.

JLGORMAN
Section Leader
Section Leader
Posts: 757
Joined: Sat Jun 28, 2003 7:35 pm
Location: Killeen, TX

Re: No Marching Band in 2020

Post by JLGORMAN » Wed Jul 15, 2020 8:54 am

Following On with States cancelling Events, New Mexico is cancelling all HS Football Games and Marching Contests state wide. Texas is still planning on having football, however they have not made a final determination for State Marching Contest. My bet is that UIL will cancel the State Contests and leave open the options of some Regions having Region contests for Ratings, however since COV19 is a big problem in the Dallas and Houston areas I cannot see how that will happen in those areas. Best chances of Region Contests are probably in the PanHandle and Central Regions which have almost no COV19 cases in their areas. It will not be like it was.
Deep in the Heart of Texas. Home of the III Mobile Armored Corps and the 1st Cavalry Division, serving America in Iraq

User avatar
Hostrauser
Support Staff
Support Staff
Posts: 7984
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2002 6:46 am
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Contact:

Re: No Marching Band in 2020

Post by Hostrauser » Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:49 pm

ABODA has canceled their competitions in Arizona.

2021 Rose Parade has been canceled.

JLGORMAN
Section Leader
Section Leader
Posts: 757
Joined: Sat Jun 28, 2003 7:35 pm
Location: Killeen, TX

Re: No Marching Band in 2020

Post by JLGORMAN » Sat Jul 18, 2020 8:57 pm

As of the 18th of Jul, The Mississippi HS Band Masters Association cancelled all Marching contests for the fall to include Regional and State Marching Championships.

The Florida Bandmasters Association cancelled all Marching Performance Assessments for Bands during the fall of 2020. They have also refused to sanction or approve any Bands performances at Band Contests outside of FL.
Deep in the Heart of Texas. Home of the III Mobile Armored Corps and the 1st Cavalry Division, serving America in Iraq

User avatar
Hostrauser
Support Staff
Support Staff
Posts: 7984
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2002 6:46 am
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Contact:

Re: No Marching Band in 2020

Post by Hostrauser » Tue Jul 21, 2020 7:40 am

Arizona: ABODA and AZMBA have canceled seasons
California: NCBA has canceled nine shows, six still pending. WBA season canceled.
Colorado: CBA season canceled
Florida: FMBC reduced schedule, changed state championships to a multi-site regional event. FBA canceled assessments
Illinois: All Chicago-area shows canceled. U of IL and ISU Shows canceled.
Indiana: ISSMA state events canceled
Iowa: IHSMA state marching festival canceled
Kansas: KBA 1A-4A championships canceled, Open Class championships still tentatively scheduled
Kentucky: KMEA state events canceled
Massachusetts: NESBA reduced schedule
Michigan: MCBA reduced schedule, changed state championships to a multi-site regional event.
Mississippi: MHSAA and MBA state events canceled
Missouri: Many assorted independent shows canceled
New Mexico: POB and ZIA marching band shows canceled, likely all shows to be canceled
North Carolina: NCBA will not sanction any shows, decision to run independent shows left up to show hosts. Competitive sports and band events canceled in several counties.
Ohio: OMEA state events canceled
Oklahoma: OBA state championships canceled
Oregon: NWAPA season canceled
South Carolina: SCBDA state events canceled
Virginia: VMBC state championships canceled

MidStates Band Association (IN, KY, OH) - season canceled
Tournament of Bands (DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV) - Atlantic Coast Championships (circuit championship) canceled

User avatar
Hostrauser
Support Staff
Support Staff
Posts: 7984
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2002 6:46 am
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Contact:

Re: No Marching Band in 2020

Post by Hostrauser » Tue Jul 21, 2020 12:18 pm

Music for All has canceled all Bands of America shows for 2020.

https://www.musicforall.org/music-for-a ... mpionships

User avatar
Bandmaster
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 1716
Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:41 am
Location: Upland, CA
Contact:

Re: No Marching Band in 2020

Post by Bandmaster » Wed Jul 22, 2020 3:26 pm

The word is that SCSBOA will not host their Championship Shows. Individual show sponsors can still host contests if they chose and SCSBOA will provide judges if desired. Many schools districts will be on virtual learning, so I assume there will be very few shows.

Many of the early season independent shows in the state of Washington have been cancelled, it is up to individual show hosts.
Dave Schaafsma
Pageantry Webmaster

JLGORMAN
Section Leader
Section Leader
Posts: 757
Joined: Sat Jun 28, 2003 7:35 pm
Location: Killeen, TX

Re: No Marching Band in 2020

Post by JLGORMAN » Sat Aug 29, 2020 11:54 am

As time has gone by, the Great State of Texas is still going to have a State Marching Band Championship this winter. The UIL is going to have a State Military Marching Band Contest on the 12th of Dec with the Class 2A Contest on the 14th of Dec, 4A on the 15th of Dec and 6A on the 16th of Dec. Locations for 2A, 4A and 6A will be at the Alamodome. Before every one says how can this happen, some rules have been placed in effect that makes this a very different event than previous years.
l. Individual Regions can opt out of having a regional Marching Contest. This means that if a school in the region wants to compete they will have to apply to another region.

2. COVID 19 Safe Distancing Rules Must Apply. This means that for many of the Large Bands from the Big Cities, there would have to be major changes in their shows. For example, the 6 foot distance between members must apply. Now for Military Style Bands and Show/Dance Bands, these conditions can be met much easier than Corps Style Bands with large Aux Groups. Also schools in Class 1A-4A, enrollments from 01 students to 1050 students can adapt easier because in most cases their Bands are between 25 and 100 members and most of these schools have to be creative in covering Football fields with small groups

3. The UIL allowed class 1A-4A schools to begin practice on 17 Aug and they played their first games last night. Bands did perform, usually only standing in Block to play the National Anthem and Fight Songs. Class 5A & 6A Schools can not start practice until 7 Sep with first games being the week of 25 Sep.

The UIL decided to allow for State Marching Contest and FOOTBALL primarily due to the demands of Class 1A-4A Schools, who in general are in rural and small towns and have far less COV19 than bigger counties. There is another MAJOR REASON why this is taking place. The Texas Education Association which oversees our schools ruled that State has stated that if a School system cannot be TOTALLY Virtual Education, than they have to open the schools. We have 254 counties in this state which is the size of CA, NY and Maine combined. In approximately 50 counties of this state due to their rural nature, they do not have the Information Technology to conduct all classes in Virtual System. In some of these counties even the law enforcement agencies due not have the access to full time Internet use. Thus these school systems are open while the major school districts are not. This year is one year when the Class AA Bands have more power than Hebron, LD Bell, and numerous other large school districts. The UIL has authorized the Region Marching Contest to be held in Mid Nov(instead of the usual Oct Dates) however with the COV19 continuing to hit Bexar County (San Antonio), Travis and Williamson Counties (Austin) Harris County(Houston) and Dallas and Tarrant Counties (Dallas and Fort Worth) it is very likely that they will not have contests in those areas. So as of now, we are on for DEC. Only in Texas.
Deep in the Heart of Texas. Home of the III Mobile Armored Corps and the 1st Cavalry Division, serving America in Iraq

User avatar
Bandmaster
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 1716
Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:41 am
Location: Upland, CA
Contact:

Re: No Marching Band in 2020

Post by Bandmaster » Sun Aug 30, 2020 3:09 pm

Jeff, if they are going to require social distancing during the band’s performances, how will the Texas bands deal with transportation to the events? 50 students on a bus isn’t going to work with social distancing and using 5 times as many buses is not financially feasible is it?
Dave Schaafsma
Pageantry Webmaster

JLGORMAN
Section Leader
Section Leader
Posts: 757
Joined: Sat Jun 28, 2003 7:35 pm
Location: Killeen, TX

Re: No Marching Band in 2020

Post by JLGORMAN » Sun Aug 30, 2020 3:49 pm

Dave. Yes the Safe Distancing rules apply. Thus Bands will have to change their style of performance. Military Style Precision Drill Bands have a big advantage in they can spread out the Precision Drill Distances in Ranks and Files. Corps style marching will require much more of a challenge. I have heard that since most of the Directors I have talked to here are Directors of 2A-4A Bands most less than 100 members and they are reforming their shows, far less use of Flags and massive close quarter drillls. They have a challenge to make their show work with the Safe Distancing. They feel it can be done, however it will be much more basic than previous years drills. The problem lies with the Big Schools, LD Bell, Claudia Taylor Johnson, Reagan, Hebron, Leander, ETC who are used to having big production Casts and massive numbers of members. These Bands will not take the field until Sep 7th and no Football Games until the 25th. I think they will find this very difficult. As for Buses, most School Districts have 55 student Capacity Buses and since school has started around the state their have been no problems. Basically most schools in 2A to 4A figue 25 students to a 55 capacity Bus. These small districts will work to make things happen. In the big 6A Monsters, the Band Parents I am sure are going to have to fund the costs of extra buses to take the Band and Drill Team/Dance Crews and and Flags. The School District I live in has enough Buses because we have 45,000 students in the district and 4 HS Bands which will have use of the Buses outside of school Time. We will see.
Deep in the Heart of Texas. Home of the III Mobile Armored Corps and the 1st Cavalry Division, serving America in Iraq

User avatar
Bandmaster
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 1716
Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:41 am
Location: Upland, CA
Contact:

Some Marching Band Shows Continue

Post by Bandmaster » Thu Oct 15, 2020 5:53 pm

We are getting reports from some of the marching band competitions that are still be held across the western half of the United States. While not much is happening here in California, we will continue to report on the shows that will take place and post the results. So continue to check our scores page for updates. If you hear of any shows that will take place here in California, or in Arizona, Nevada, Washington and Oregon, PLEASE send me a note so we can make sure to report on them. Thank you!
Dave Schaafsma
Pageantry Webmaster

JLGORMAN
Section Leader
Section Leader
Posts: 757
Joined: Sat Jun 28, 2003 7:35 pm
Location: Killeen, TX

Re: No Marching Band in 2020

Post by JLGORMAN » Sat Oct 17, 2020 11:08 am

Yesterday the UIL had a conference call on Zoom for all 33 UIL Regions concerning the upcoming Region Marching Contests. The UIL confirmed that Region Marching Contests must be held in Nov, with two exception, Region 1(Amarillo and the PanHandle which will hold their contest on 31 Oct). Also Region 16(Lubbock South to Abilene) will compete on 24 Oct. These waivers were granted due to the weather conditions in that part of TX in Nov. It is not uncommon to have extremely cold weather to include snow in these regions, thus the UIL allowed them to start earlier(interestingly enough these regions have always started earlier because of the weather). Two Region have opted out of any Region Marching Contest. Region 22(El Paso area). The CV19 Pandemic has hit this area hard. No Band events and many football games have been cancelled. The 28 HS Bands in this region will not compete this year in any UIL Events. Region 33(Northwest Houston area). This region has not only been hit by CV19 but by the Floods of recent Hurricanes and many of the area were flooded. Galena Park which has a top HS Football team has taken them on the road for the entire season. Their closest games is 30 miles away. The Bands are in no shape to compete, however they will take part in Spring Events. There are 19 HS in this Region 14 Class 6A Bands and 5 Class 5A Bands. The Regions have advised that the number of schools competing in their Regions will not be known until the day of the event. This is just the problem with trying to compete during this year not only with the Pandemic but the Hurricanes.
Deep in the Heart of Texas. Home of the III Mobile Armored Corps and the 1st Cavalry Division, serving America in Iraq

Post Reply