USBands
USBands (formally United States Scholastic Band Association[1] or USSBA) was formed in the Fall of 1988 to provide high school band programs with a competitive circuit featuring top judges from across the continent and a venue for the US Scholastic Band Championship. It is currently operated by BD Performing Arts.
Type | Public |
---|---|
Founded | 1988 |
Headquarters | , |
Parent | Independent (1988-1990) YEA (1990-2019) BD Performing Arts (2020-present) |
USBands membership consists of over 700 participating high school marching bands. Annually, bands are offered over 150 festival opportunities and invitations to compete at major Regional Championships and the US Scholastic Band Championship. Bands are classified by size, with Group 1 being the smallest and Group 6 being the largest, and by skill level. The A Class is for inexperienced bands, new bands, and bands that have recently moved to a larger size group. The Open class for established programs. This results in twelve groups ranging from Group I A to Group VI Open, performing and competing with other bands of like size and talent. USBands has started to support competitive indoor events as well as cooperative fundraising opportunities. In the winter of 2012, USSBA changed their name to USBands.
Classifications
The USBands allows their bands to classify themselves into three groups in:
- Performance Class - Ensembles who prefer a non-competitive experience at any USBands sanctioned event.
- A Class - Ensembles who demonstrate a basic to intermediate skill set (may be building/rebuilding their program) and are adjudicated on a scale representing fundamental to intermediate skills.
- Open Class - Seasoned ensembles that demonstrate expanded skill sets and are adjudicated on a scale supporting intermediate to advanced skills.
Group Size
Bands are grouped by the number of performers on the field. This count includes playing members, auxiliary, and command personnel drum majors. Group sizes are as follows (new class size breaks used for the 2016 to 2019 seasons):
- Group I - 1 to 38 members (Texas: 1-45)
- Group II - 39 to 53 members (Texas: 46–80)
- Group III - 54 to 70 members (Texas: 81-115)
- Group IV - 71 to 95 members (Texas: 116–160)
- Group V - 96 to 130 members (Texas: 161–200)
- Group VI -131 and more members (Texas: 201+)[2]
For 2020, USBands created a different group sizing and eliminated "Open Class" as part of its "v-USBands" virtual adjudication platform.[4] While individual musicians and guard performers along with small ensembles were adjudicated, group Sizes for Marching Bands were as follows:
- Division I - 26 to 50 members
- Division 2 - 51 to 74 members
- Division 3 - 75 to 99 members
- Division 4 - 100 and more members
Bands smaller than 26 members could opt to be adjudicated with Division 1 or as an "Ensemble".
For 2021, "Open" Class has been restored for all Competitions in Texas & beginning with Competitions on September 25 Nationally. Group sizes have been changed as follows:[5]
- Group I - 1 to 39 members (Texas: 1-59)
- Group II - 40 to 59 members (Texas: 60–99)
- Group III - 60 to 79 members (Texas: 100–139)
- Group IV - 80 to 100 members (Texas: 140–169)
- Group V - 101 and more members (Texas: 170+)
Group VI has been eliminated
For 2022, Group sizes have been changed as follows (Texas events group sizing remains the same as 2021):[6]
- Group I - 1 to 39 members (Texas: 1-59)
- Group II - 40 to 54 members (Texas: 60–99)
- Group III - 55 to 74 members (Texas: 100–139)
- Group IV - 75 to 99 members (Texas: 140–169)
- Group V - 100 and more members (Texas: 170+)
For 2023, group sizes have been changed as follows (Texas events group sizing remains the same as 2021).
- Group I - 1 to 35 members (Texas: 1-59)
- Group II - 36 to 49 members (Texas: 60-99)
- Group III - 50 to 64 members (Texas: 100-139)
- Group IV - 65 to 89 members (Texas: 140-169)
- Group V - 90 and more members (Texas: 170+)
Past USBands Open Class champions
Year | Group 1-Open | Group 2-Open | Group 3-Open | Group 4-Open | Group 5-Open | Group 6-Open |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Lenape Regional HS (Lenape, NJ) 90.35 | Allentown HS (Allentown, NJ) 93.25 | Council Rock High School South (Southampton, PA) 93.75 | Edison High School (Edison, NJ) 96.5 | Dartmouth High School (Dartmouth, MA) 97.7 | Class Inactive |
2021 | Glen Ridge HS (Glen Ridge, NJ) 90.1 | Passaic HS (Passaic, NJ) 94.9 | Blackstone-Millville HS (Blackstone, MA) 94.6 | North Penn HS (Lansdale, PA) 95.20 | Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, MA) 98.00 | Class Inactive |
2020 | Shepherd Hill Reg HS (Dudley, MA) 92.0 | Edison HS (Edison, NJ) 94.67 | ||||
2019 | Burlington City HS (Burlington, NJ) 92.450 | Shepherd Hill Reg HS (Dudley, MA) 95.900 | Calvert Hall College HS (Baltimore, MD) 95.425 | Blackstone-Millville HS (Blackstone, MA) 98.325 | Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, MA) 98.575 | Norwalk HS (Norwalk, CT) 96.050 |
2018 | Burlington City HS (Burlington, NJ) 94.463 | Shepherd Hill Reg HS (Dudley, MA) 95.288 | Calvert Hall College HS (Baltimore, MD) 93.750 | Edison HS (Edison, NJ) 97.588 | Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, MA) 98.075 | Norwalk HS (Norwalk, CT) 95.600 |
2017 | Burlington City HS (Burlington, NJ) 95.425 | Shepherd Hill Reg HS (Dudley, MA) 96.400 | Calvert Hall College HS (Baltimore, MD) 96.588 | Newtown HS (Newtown, CT) 97.363 | Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, MA) 98.350 | Norwalk HS (Norwalk, CT) 97.775 |
2016 | Joseph Case HS (Swansea, MA) 96.475 | Calvert Hall College HS (Baltimore, MD) 96.875 | King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, MA) 97.438 | Blackstone-Millville HS (Blackstone, MA) 97.425 | Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, MA) 97.063 | Trumbull HS (Trumbull, CT) 97.100 |
2015 | East Stroudsburg HS North (Dingmans Ferry, PA) 95.538 | Shepherd Hill Reg HS (Dudley, MA) 96.100 | King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, MA) 95.788 | Blackstone-Millville HS (Blackstone, MA) 96.963 | Mechanicsburg HS (Mechanicsburg, PA) 97.363 | Norwin HS (Irwin, PA) 97.200 |
2014 | Haddon Heights HS (Haddon Heights, NJ) 94.450 | Lenape Regional HS (Medford, NJ) 96.425 | Edison HS (Edison, NJ) 98.300 | Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, PA) 97.975 | North Penn HS (Lansdale, PA) 97.95 | Norwalk HS (Norwalk, CT) 97.375 |
2013 | Haddon Heights HS (Haddon Heights, NJ) 90.25 | Edison HS (Edison, NJ) 95.738 | King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, MA) 96.138 | Smithfield-Selma HS (Smithfield, NC) 96.875 | Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, MA) 96.6 | West Genesee HS (Camillus, NY) 95.687 |
2012 | Cedar Cliff HS (Camp Hill, PA) 92.288 | Susquehanna Twp HS (Harrisburg, PA) 96.8 | Old Bridge HS (Old Bridge, NJ) 96.375 | King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, MA) 97.075 | Immaculata HS (Somerville, NJ) 96.587 | Wagner HS (San Antonio, TX) 97.288 |
2011 | Monsignor Farrell HS (Staten Island, NY) 93.650 | Frank W. Cox HS (Virginia Beach,VA) 95.7 | Montville Twp (Montville, NJ) 97.588 | North Penn HS (Lansdale, PA) 96.938 | Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, MA) 98.225 | Munford HS (Munford, TN) 98.013 |
2010 | Perkiomen Valley HS (Collegeville, PA) 96.063 | Williamstown HS (Williamstown, NJ) 97.06 | Rancocas Valley Reg HS (Mount Holly, NJ) 97.875 | Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, PA) 97.400 | Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth) 98.55 | George Walton HS (Marietta, GA) 97.650 |
2009 | Perkiomen Valley HS (Collegeville, PA) 97.35 | Timber Creek Reg HS (Sicklerville, NJ) 97.163 | Rancocas Valley Reg HS (Mount Holly, NJ) 97.2 | King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, MA) 97.45 | Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, MA) 97.813 | Roxbury HS (Roxbury, NJ) 98.188 |
2008 | Biglerville HS (Biglerville, PA) 93.92 | River Hill HS (Clarksville, MD) 98.25 | Cedar Cliff HS (Camp Hill, PA) 96.9 | Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, PA) 98.575 | Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, MA) 98.275 | Immaculata HS (Somerville, NJ) 96.05 |
2007 | Deptford Township HS (Deptford Twp, NJ) 93.35 | Century HS (Sykesville, MD) 96.3 | River Hill HS (Clarksville, MD) 95.55 | Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, PA) 97.5 | Upper Darby HS (Upper Darby, PA) 96.425 | |
2006 | Fluvanna County HS (Palmyra, VA ) 94.675 | Shawnee HS (Medford, NJ) 94.675 | Waterford HS (Waterford, CT) 95.85 | Absegami HS (Galloway, NJ) 96.9 | Cheshire HS (Cheshire, CT) 95.8 | North Penn HS (Lansdale, PA) 98.475 |
2005 | Shawnee HS (Medford, NJ) | Cheshire HS (Cheshire, CT) 97.15 | North Penn HS (Lansdale, PA) 97.150 | |||
2004 | Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, PA) | McLean HS (McLean, VA) 92.85 | North Penn HS (Lansdale, PA) 97.40 | |||
2003 | Point Pleasant Borough HS (Point Pleasant, NJ) | Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, PA) 98.0 | ||||
2002 | Point Pleasant Borough HS (Point Pleasant, NJ) | Union HS (Union, NJ) 95.700 | Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, PA) 96.4 | Cheshire HS (Cheshire, CT) 97.9 | ||
2001 | Point Pleasant Borough HS (Point Pleasant, NJ) | Upper Moreland HS (Willow Grove, PA) 95.200 | North Penn HS (Lansdale, PA) 96.20 | |||
2000 | Point Pleasant Borough HS (Point Pleasant, NJ) | Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, PA) 96.300 | McLean HS (McLean, VA) 95.600 | North Penn HS (Lansdale, PA) 97.500 | ||
1999 | Brick Memorial HS (Brick, NJ) 93.60 | King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, MA) 96.900 | Cheshire HS (Cheshire, CT) 95.000 | North Penn HS (Lansdale, PA) 96.900 | ||
1998 | Glen Ridge HS (Glen Ridge, NJ) | South Hadley HS (South Hadley, MA) 93.10 | King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, MA) 97.400 | North Penn HS (Lansdale, PA) 97.200 | ||
1997 | Gov Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, NJ) & Waterford HS (Waterford, CT) 90.90 | Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, PA) 95.500 | Immaculata HS (Somerville, NJ) 95.1 | North Penn HS (Lansdale, PA) 95.500 | N/A | |
1996 | Dunellen HS (Dunellen, NJ) 86.700 | Central Regional HS (Bayville, NJ) 91.30 | Brick Memorial HS (Brick Township, NJ) 93.80 | King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, MA) 93.30 | Piscataway HS (Piscataway Twp, NJ) 95.90 | N/A |
1995 | King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, MA) | North Penn HS (Lansdale, PA) 95.800 | N/A | |||
1994 | Morris Knolls HS (Rockaway, NJ) | Piscataway HS (Piscataway Twp, NJ) | ||||
1993 | Governor Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, NJ) | Piscataway HS (Piscataway Twp, NJ) | ||||
1992 | Governor Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, NJ) | Piscataway HS (Piscataway Twp, NJ) | ||||
1991 | Governor Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, NJ) | Piscataway HS (Piscataway Twp, NJ) | ||||
1990 | Governor Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, NJ) | Piscataway HS (Piscataway Twp, NJ) | ||||
1989 | Governor Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, NJ) | |||||
1988 | Governor Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, NJ) |
Past USBands A Class champions
Year | Group 1A | Group 2A | Group 3A | Group 4A | Group 5A | Group 6A |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Group 1A
East Haven HS Co-op Marching Band (East Haven, CT) 95.80 Group 1AA Northern HS (Owing, MD) 94.60 |
Group 2A
Northern Valley HS at Old Tappan (Old Tappen, NJ) 95.50 Group 2AA Lenape Valley Regional HS (Stanhope, NJ) 96.70 |
Nutley HS (Nutley, NJ) 93.60 | Pequannock Twp HS (Pompton Plains, NJ) 95.50 | New Providence HS (New Providence, NJ) 95.00 | Class Inactive |
2021 | Delran HS (Delran, NJ) 96.200 | Allentown HS (Allentown, NJ) 93.900 | West Milford HS (West Milford, NJ) 94.800 | Loudoun County HS (Leesburg, VA) 96.300 | Port Chester HS (Port Chester, NY) 89.800 | Class Inactive |
2019 | Calvert HS (Prince Frederick, MD) 92.705 | East Haven HS Co-op (East Haven, CT) 95.940 | Pequannock Twp HS (Pompton Plains, NJ) 93.860 | Council Rock HS-South (Southampton, PA) 94.350 | Loudoun County HS (Leesburg, VA) 98.400 | New Providence HS (New Providence, NJ) 94.340 |
2018 | Somerset-Berkley Reg HS (Somerset, MA) 94.400 | Montville Township HS (Montville, NJ) 94.438 | Thomas S Wootton HS (Rockville, MD) 97.275 | Loudoun County HS (Leesburg, VA) 97.512 | West Milford HS (W. Milford, NJ) 93.650 | New Providence HS (New Providence, NJ) 94.263 |
2017 | Weehawken HS (Weehawken, NJ) 92.113 | Lenape Valley Reg HS (Stanhope, NJ) 93.313 | Pequannock Twp HS (Pompton Plains, NJ) 95.088 | South County HS (Lorton, VA) 97.563 | Cicero-N Syracuse HS (Cicero, NY) 94.625 | Jackson Memorial HS (Jackson, NJ) 92.375 |
2016 | Delran HS (Delran Twp, NJ) 96.763 | Bethel HS (Bethel, CT) 96.813 | Audubon HS (Audubon, NJ) 96.013 | Council Rock HS-South (Southampton, PA) 96.175 | West Orange HS (W.Orange, NJ) 96.638 | New Providence HS (New Providence, NJ) 95.838 |
2015 | Somerset Berkley Reg HS (Somerset, MA) 97.425 | Kingsway Reg HS (Woolwich Twp, NJ) 97.100 | Montville Twp HS (Montville, NJ) 96.663 | Parsippany HS (Parsippany, NJ) 96.638 | Westfield HS (Westfield, NJ) 96.738 | New Providence HS (New Providence, NJ) 96.950 |
2014 | Joseph Case HS (Swansea, MA) 96.600 | Wayne Valley HS (Wayne, NJ) 93.663 | Union HS (Union, NJ) 91.213 | Northern Highlands Reg HS (Allendale, NJ) 97.400 | Cherokee HS (Mariton, NJ) 92.188 | Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS (Scotch Plains, NJ) 92.875 |
2013 | Weehawken HS (Weekawken, NJ) 96.163 | Monroe Township HS (Monroe Twp, NJ) 95.613 | North Warren Reg HS (Blairstown, NJ) 96.425 | Group 4AA
Absegami HS (Galloway, NJ) 95.163 Group 4A Northern Highlands Reg HS (Allendale, NJ) 91.938 |
Elizabeth HS (Elizabeth, NJ) 95.987 | Jackson Memorial HS (Jackson, NJ) 96.300 |
2012 | Joseph Case HS (Swansea, MA) 94.975 | Chopticon HS (Morganza, MD) 97.088 | Northern Highlands Reg (Allendale, NJ) 96.125 | Passaic HS (Passaic, NJ) 96.263 | Elizabeth HS (Elizabeth, NJ) 97.100 | New Providence HS (New Providence, NJ) 96.300 |
2011 | Joseph Case HS (Swansea, MA) 94.163 | Lenape Regional HS (Medford, NJ) 96.413 | Perkiomen Valley HS (Collegeville, PA) 96.588 | Madison County HS (Danielsville, GA) 95.35 | Elizabeth HS (Elizabeth, NJ) 97.413 | New Providence HS (New Providence, NJ) 96.438 |
2010 | Joseph Case HS (Swansea, MA) | New Providence HS (New Providence, NJ) 91.350 | ||||
2009 | Joseph Case HS (Swansea, MA) | |||||
2008 | Lenape Regional HS (Medford, NJ) | Pequannock Twp HS (Pompton Plains, NJ) 90.1 | ||||
2007 | Lenape Regional HS (Medford, NJ) | |||||
2005 | Elizabeth HS[7] (Elizabeth, NJ) | Passaic High School (Passaic, NJ) | ||||
2004 | Lenape Regional HS (Medford, NJ) | Passaic High School (Passaic, NJ) | ||||
2003 | Lenape Valley Reg HS (Stanhope, NJ) 90.40 | Elizabeth HS (Elizabeth, NJ) | ||||
2002 | Blue Mountain HS (Schuylkill Haven, PA) 87.40 | Copiague HS (Copiague, NY) 92.70 | ||||
2001 | Northampton Area HS (Northampton, PA)
86.70 |
Governor Mifflin Senior HS (Shillington, PA)
88.60 |
Blackstone-Millville HS (Blackstone, MA) 94.60 | |||
2000 | Kearny HS (Kearny, NJ) | Blackstone-Millville HS (Blackstone, MA) 89.30 | Pennsbury HS (Fairless Hill, PA) 95.50 | |||
1999 | Lakewood HS (Lakewood, NJ) 90.95 | Perkiomen Valley HS (Collegeville, PA) 90.70 | Group 3A
Morris Knolls HS (Rockaway, NJ) Group 3A (11/13/99) Kearny HS (Kearny, NJ) |
Somerville High School (Somerville, NJ) 90.15 | ||
1998 | Oakcrest HS (Mays Landing, NJ) 89.80 | Southington HS (Southington, CT) 90.30 | ||||
1997 | Northern Burlington Reg HS (Columbus, NJ) | |||||
1996 | Parsippany HS (Parsippany, NJ) | Middletown North HS (Middletown, NJ) 85.00 | Port Chester HS (Port Chester, NY) 92.00 | |||
1994 | Parsippany HS (Parsippany, NJ) | |||||
1990 | Parsippany HS (Parsippany, NJ) |
References
- "Youth Education in the Arts: US Scholastic Band Association". Archived from the original on 2006-08-22. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
- "USSBA revises group sizes for the 2011 marching band season". YEA. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
- "|".
- "G2020 v-USBands Participant Guide" (PDF). USBands. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
- "Group Sizes for 2021". USBands. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
- "Fall Participant Guide". USBands. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- "Elizabeth High School - News & Events". elizabeth.nj.schoolwebpages.com. Retrieved 2017-11-05.