Bands of America

Bands of America (BOA), a division of Music for All, Inc., is an organization that promotes and organizes marching band competitions for high school students. Competitions include both Regional and Super Regional Championships as well as the Grand National Championships. The BOA Grand National Championships is considered the largest and most prestigious national marching band event available to high school marching bands. This annual three day competition is currently held in the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis with 80 to 90 high school marching bands participating from around the country. More than 50,000 participants and spectators attend the event annually. No performance qualifications are required to compete.

BOA considers music to be the most important aspect of the performance and this is reflected in their scoring system with 60% value placed on music, 40% value placed on visual, 60% value placed on general effect and 40% on performance.

In addition to marching band events, Music for All, Inc. organizes concert band festivals and symposia, musical and leadership clinics, as well as the Honor Band of America and the newly formed Jazz Band of America. One of the largest events of the year is the annual Summer Symposium, which offers a week of instruction from some of the most renowned musicians in the world. High school students from across the nation come together on the campus of Ball State University. The week includes camps for concert band, jazz band, percussion, marching band, colorguard, and the famous George N. Parks Drum Major Academy.

Read more about Bands Of America:  History of Grand National Championships, Headquarters, BOA Honor Band in The Rose Parade, Honor Band of America, Jazz Band of America, Current Locations of BOA Regionals and Super Regionals, Past Grand National Marching Band Champions, Records

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    “According to the historian, they escaped as by a miracle all roving bands of Indians, and reached their homes in safety, with their trophies, for which the General Court paid them fifty pounds. The family of Hannah Dustan all assembled alive once more, except the infant whose brains were dashed out against the apple tree, and there have been many who in later time have lived to say that they have eaten of the fruit of that apple tree.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    “Nearly all the bands are mustered out of service; ours therefore is a novelty. We marched a few miles yesterday on a road where troops have not before marched. It was funny to see the children. I saw our boys running after the music in many a group of clean, bright-looking, excited little fellows.”
    —Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)

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    Their little knowledge bringing them nearer to their ignorance,
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    But nearness to death no nearer to God.”
    —Sean O’Casey (1884–1964)