Bands of America Hall of Fame

[twhsalumniparent]

Jan 15, 2020 17:45:57 GMT -6 LeanderMomma said:

I don’t agree that Tarpon is better than Hebron but I definitely agree that Tarpon should be on the list before ANY Texas band. Except maybe Reagan. Reagan earned their spot a long time ago.

I disagree. I think that Westfield, Spring, LD Bell and TWHS have more than enough BOA history to match or exceed Tarpon when looking over the full body of work. For this, you have to drop recency bias that we all suffer from.

[hewhowaits]

Jan 16, 2020 8:18:09 GMT -6 twhsalumniparent said:

Jan 15, 2020 17:45:57 GMT -6 LeanderMomma said:

I don’t agree that Tarpon is better than Hebron but I definitely agree that Tarpon should be on the list before ANY Texas band. Except maybe Reagan. Reagan earned their spot a long time ago.

I disagree. I think that Westfield, Spring, LD Bell and TWHS have more than enough BOA history to match or exceed Tarpon when looking over the full body of work. For this, you have to drop recency bias that we all suffer from.

I expect to see at least a couple of these bands as boahistorybuff keeps sharing.

[boahistorybuff]

When I finally get them done (it will take a while), the top 20 will consist of bands who either have had a long history of success or had a brief but highly influential period of success.

I will then list some bands who have had a lot of success this past decade who I think will be able to be added to the hall of fame list after a few more successful seasons.

I will also include an honorary mention list of bands who just did not quite make my top 20 list.

I will also do a list of the most successful small school (Class A) band programs over the years.

[verysaxy]

Disclaimer: Hebron is only on there because they currently have the highest score ever, which could easily be replaced. The second someone breaks 98 they’re out LOL. If there were more spots Tarpon and Westfield would definitely be on there but... there isn’t.

[dallasman]

Jan 17, 2020 19:41:23 GMT -6 verysaxy said:

Disclaimer: Hebron is only on there because they currently have the highest score ever, which could easily be replaced. The second someone breaks 98 they’re out LOL. If there were more spots Tarpon and Westfield would definitely be on there but... there isn’t.

Scores really do not matter though. They don’t. Tarpon has been great for 20+ years. In my mind, the program’s achievements should be more heavily weighted than one performance in front of one panel. I think it actually takes away from the list.

[boahistorybuff]

#7 Choice - Lake Park HS (Lancers) from Roselle, IL

Lake Park participated in the June Grand Nationals in Whitewater,WI during the 1970s but did not make finals any of those years. They attended their first BOA regional in 1984 where they were a finalist and then attended their first fall Grand Nationals in 1985, where they also made finals. As of 2019, they have attended every Grand Nationals since 1985. Lake Park has been a BOA regional finalist somewhere between 35 and 40 times. They have won 8 BOA regional titles. They are an 18 time Grand National finalist (85-02). They are a 2 time GN Class AAA Champion, finished in the top five in GN finals for 11 consecutive seasons, were runner-up to the Grand National title 3 times and are the 1996 BOA Grand National Champions.

The Lake Park Lancers were one of many competitive marching band programs that emerged in the state of Illinois during the 1970s doing corps style competitions; still quite new at the time. During the early 1980s, Lake Park got a new band director; Kenneth Snoeck, who was prior director of past MBA GN finalist band Bridgeport HS from Michigan. Mr. Snoeck turned Lake Park into a national power house during the course of the 1980s. Much like what Herscher HS, IL had done in the early 1980s and very much like the style of their rival Marian Catholic, Lake Park brought a symphonic band style/sound to the marching field. Their music was so much more complex and layered compared to what most other marching bands were doing in the 1980s. They played such nuanced and difficult music with such a nice rich sound quality and showed that a band did not always have to play loud to be effective. Lake Park was a band that took on a wide array of classical music throughout their glory years. Some of their biggest success came from shows where they played eastern European and Latin Composers; this includes both symphonies and operas. In addition to their strong music, Lake Park performed intricate and often difficult drill routines. Despite their large school size, Lake Park's marching band throughout its glory years was on the small side compared to most other GN finalist bands. In fact, in the late 80s/early 90s they marched less than 130 members. They proved that you do not need a huge band to deliver a high quality sound. During the early years of the themed based shows (late 80s/early 90s) Lake Park was noted for taking on music of a specific nationality or geographic region. Not only did the guard wear costumes to fit the theme, the drum majors and pit did so as well. The band, however, remained in military jackets (that would have seemed crazy back then for the band on the field to dress in costume). I always loved the contrast of Lake Park's royal blue jackets and black pants against the green turf. In 1993, Lake Park gave the BOA world what might have been a first and that was having a band member sing opera in the show, likely a big risk that went over really well. In 2000, as themed shows became more complex, Lake Park took on another risk and that was to tell the tragic story of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing; rare at the time for a band to take on such a serious subject matter and to tackle it so directly.

Ken Snoeck retired as director of Lake Park after the 2004 season. I really don't think the band was ever the same after he left. They still remained a consistent regional finalist and GN semi finalist through the rest of the 2000s, but during the 2010s, Lake Park went into a steady decline. The band went through a series of directors and staffing changes. I suspect there may have also been some financial strains that reduced the support from school administration. There has also been an exodus from the program in recent years. While the band has remained active participants in BOA this past decade, it has been several years since they have made regional finals and GN semi finals. While I hope to someday see this once powerful band program make a comeback, the last couple years raise concerns that their BOA days may be drawing to a close.

1996 Chicago Tribune Article

1997 Chicago Tribune Article

Lake Park Video Tribute

Ken Snoeck BOA Hall of Fame - 2004

[boahistorybuff]

#8 Choice - Plymouth-Canton Educational Park from Canton, MI

Plymouth-Canton Educational Park or PCEP has participated in BOA since the mid 1980s. As of the end of the 2019 season, they have been a Grand National Semi Finalist every year of the semi finalis era except for the two years that they did not attend. PCEP has been a regional finalist around 35 times and they have won 5 BOA regional titles. They are a band that has traditionally peaked late season, so had they attended regionals later in the season (most of the regionals they attended were early season) they likely would have more regional titles under their belt. PCEP is a 21 time Grand National Finalist (88-02, 04-08, 12), a 4 time Grand National Class AAA Champion, they had 7 top three finishes, and are a 3 time Grand National Champion (1990,1991,1999).

Prior to 1972, PCEP was essentially the Plymouth Marching Band, a small town high school marching band. During the early 1970s, the Plymouth Canton school district turned some farmland into a high school campus called Plymouth Centennial Educational Park. This was to accommodate a rapidly growing suburban community. They built two high schools; Canton HS and Salem HS. In 2002, a third high school; Plymouth HS was added. While each of these high schools would have separate athletic programs, they consolidated the performing arts program into one. This included the music program and of course the marching band. In 1992, the name of the campus was changed to Plymouth-Canton Educational Park. The marching band adopted that name in 1993. Shortly after the formation of Plymouth Centennial Educational Park in the early 1970s, James Griffith became director of the newly formed Plymouth Centennial Educational Park marching band, which is what the small town Plymouth Marching band evolved into. They started out performing exclusively for half time at the football games. At the time, the band performed about every Friday evening as they were the band for both high school football teams (the teams used the same field and alternated home games). In 1977, the band entered the Michigan competitive marching band circuit; their first year doing competitions. Mr. Griffith, who is probably described as the father of the PCEP marching band, led this band through a slow but steady improving trend over the next 11 years. He directed them to their first state title in 1984 and then to their first appearance in BOA Grand National Finals in 1988. Mr. Griffith handed over the direction of the Marching band to Glen Adsit in 1989. Over the past three decades, PCEP has had a lot of very talented directors, staff and designers who have had a hand in the success of the marching band. Unlike most of the bands on my Hall of Fame list, their directors/staff have not been at PCEP for a long time period; most would leave for more lucrative positions. Among some of the noteworthy directors include Glen Adsit who led the program to two Grand National titles in the early 1990s, David McGrath who led the band from the mid 1990s to 2000 and led the band during their 1999 title, Marc Whitlock who led the band in the mid 2000s and Mike Wells who is the current director of the band.

I would definitely describe PCEP as one of the most innovative bands in BOA history. During the early 1990s, they were often called the Broadway band as their shows were built around Broadway Musicals. They introduced a level of theatrics into their shows that went way beyond what other bands were doing at the time. While certainly not the first band to use electronics, particularly electric keyboards, they took the use of electronics to a whole new level. They also used not only amplified vocal soloists but vocal narrators. Since electronics were not allowed in DCI during the 1990s, it was in BOA that these advances were made. Leading the bands who were testing the limits of vocal amplification was PCEP. During the late 90s/early 2000s, PCEP developed shows that tied the music and visuals into the central theme of the show that was far beyond what most of the top level BOA bands were doing at the time. Looking back now, their shows back then were years ahead of their time, especially their 1999 Champion Show "Thought Crime", considered by many as one of the best pre-2010 shows ever. The fact that they were a really good band certainly helped gain attention to their innovations. Throughout most of their glory years, everyone was always eager to see what PCEP would be performing for the upcoming season. Even after PCEP fell out of the top echelon of GN finalists, they continued to deliver highly innovative and entertaining shows. For example, their props in their 2009 show rank among the most innovative in BOA and their show concept/design in 2010 was another show that seemed years ahead of its time. Although PCEP has not won a regional title or made GN finals since 2012, they remain a consistent regional finalist and Grand National semi finalist. Over the last two decades, even though the marching band is almost entirely subsidized by parents and fundraising, the school district has not had as deep of pockets as most top level BOA bands, which has likely been a big challenge to the band in recent years. It seems to me like PCEP has had more struggles ever since the 2008 recession, which hit metro Detroit particularly hard. Even though their placements in both BOA and Michigan State Competitions have fallen a bit in recent years, I am not counting them out of a future comeback.

PCEP Marching Band Wiki Page - Seems as though they have trimmed this back from what it used to be. Hopefully more gets added to it.

PCEP band photos over the last several decades

More PCEP photos over the years

PCEP Scrapbook - Includes show descriptions, photos and some audio of seasons past. Also includes audio of their concert band over the years.

[boahistorybuff]

#9 Choice - Kiski Area HS (The Kiski Cavaliers) from Vandergrift, PA

Kiski Area competed in their first BOA event at the 1986 BOA Grand Nationals. They participated in their first BOA regional in 1987 in Morgantown, WV. They have participated in BOA regionals every year since. As of the end of the 2019 season, they have been a regional finalist at least 50 times. They have been named regional Class AA champions around 40 times. They edge out Norwin for the band with the most regional class titles. The have outright won 20 BOA regional titles. Their regional wins have been fairly evenly distributed over a 31-year time span. Kiski is a band that during its glory years did not attend Grand Nationals every year. If they had, I would say that Kiski had the goods to make finals every year from 1987 to 2004. During the early to mid 90s, I think they quite possibly would have had top three finishes at GN every year had they attended. It turns out they have been a Grand National finalist 8 times (88,89,91,94,96,98,01,03). They are a 2 time Grand National Class AA Champion and have been runner-up to the Grand National Class AA title 8 times. Their highest finish at Grand Nationals was in 1994 when they placed 2nd by a mere 0.15 points.

During the 1980s, Scott Koter became director of the Kiski Area marching band. He led the band through a rapid improvement during the late 1980s. In 1986 they placed 33rd at Grand Nationals. Then in 1987 they were runner-up to the BOA Eastern Regional title. In 1988, they won their first BOA Eastern Regional and made their first appearance in Grand National finals. Those wins at the Eastern Regionals in the late 80s and early 90s were actually from highly competitive contests (the Eastern regionals were among the most competitive back in those days). Mr. Koter led the band program through 1992, then it was turned over the George Wozniak who led the program through the 2004 season. Mr Koter however remained in the school administration which I am sure remained highly supportive of the band program. Although they had a few years where their shows veered from their typical style, throughout most of their glory years (late 80s through mid 2000s), Kiski often built their shows around either Broadway or Jazz (or in many instances, Broadway musicals in a jazz style). Their music proved as enjoyable as it was good. They were also known for putting forth strong visual packages. Kiski was a band that typically started the season strong, which is one reason they have so many regional titles. I would include Kiski in the group of bands like Centerville and Rocky Mount who have put forth some of the best jazz performances at Grand Nationals. For most of the seasons since 2005, Kiski has been under the direction of Shawn Pityk. Although they are not quite to the level of their glory days and have not made GN finals since 2003, they have remained a stalwart at the BOA northeast regionals. One of the things that has impressed me about Kiski over the last couple of decades is that they have not succumb to a dramatic decline in the program which has affected many other mid sized band programs (class AA) that were once very strong programs (in the 80s and 90s). They have also continued to deliver good and interesting shows. If you take Marian and Tarpon out of the picture, Kiski is still one of the best mid sized school marching bands in the country. Given how competitive BOA has become and considering all of the strong large school band programs that have entered the scene in the last decade, I doubt Kiski will be able to return to GN finals level. However, they seem to be in good position to remain a strong competitor at the BOA northeast regionals and potential GN Semi Finalist.

Kiski Area Marching Band Video Archive - Goes all the way back to 1985!

Kiski Winter Guard Video Archive - Goes back to 2000

[boahistorybuff]

#10 Choice - Spring HS (Lions) from Spring, TX

I place Spring in the same category as Live Oak and Rocky Mount. Their time at the top was relatively brief but highly influential. Spring has been a BOA regional finalist around 30 times. They have won 5 BOA regional titles, including the very first regional at San Antonio (years before it was an actual Super Regional). Spring is only a two time Grand National finalist (91 and 93). They are however the 1993 GN Class AAA and overall Grand National Champions. They are the first Texas band to be crowned Grand National Champion. Those were the only two Grand Nationals that Spring attended during the 1990s. Had they attended Grand Nationals every season of their glory years, they most definitely would have made finals each year from 1991 to 2000 and could arguably have picked up another GN title.

The legacy of Spring actually begins with Richard Crain who was the head of the music department at Spring ISD; which includes both Westfield HS and Spring HS. Despite being an older high school than Westfield, Spring's band program was not anywhere near the level of Westfield during the 1980s. That would change shortly after 1989 when Bill Watson became director of the Spring Marching Band. He had been the assistant director at Westfield for a few years, working with Philip Geiger. Before Mr Watson took over the marching band at Spring, they were notorious for having band members skip practice. Mr. Watson instituted a more disciplined policy; no skipping practice or you were out of the band. Mr Watson also assembled a strong team of instructors and designers. This and the fact that the Spring ISD had a very solid foundation in terms of music education in their schools that fed into the high school led to a dramatic rise in the performance level of Spring over the next few seasons. By 1991, they made Grand National finals. In 1992, they won their first Texas UIL state title and in 1993 they won their first BOA regional and won the Grand National title. The band remained strong through 1995. Mr Watson then left the program for Richland HS. Tom Bennett and Mark Edenfield then took over the marching band (Richard Crain remained as head of the Spring ISD) and led them through very successful seasons during the rest of the 1990s.

Spring is probably known more than any other band for just one performance. That was their 1993 Grand National champion performance. At the time, it was considered the best BOA performance ever. In fact, it was still considered one of the best shows several years after 1993. Often times you would hear "well so and so deserved to win the GN title, but they were no Spring 93". What that performance did was that it showed that high school students can play extremely well while still doing an incredibly demanding visual package. I think it made a lot of people realize that there was more potential in high school bands than what was thought at the time. Of course 93 was not the only extraordinary show for Spring (no online videos back then so most outside Texas did not get to see all of those Spring shows of the 90s). Luckily with old videos having surfaced, it is clear why they were considered one of the best bands in Texas during the 1990s. Even though they were 2nd to Westfield at the 1992 BOA Texas regional, I actually think that season they had the best drill design of any band of the decade (it was written by Steve Brubaker not too long before he passed away). All of the Spring shows that I had seen during that era were outstanding. They typically played classical music and boy did they play it well with such incredible ensemble sound. I also have to mention that they had some fantastic percussion groups during those years. The Spring performances, along with Westfield, inspired many Texas band programs that were emerging during the 1990s. They also inspired future directors and instructors across the state of Texas. Looking at what Texas bands are now doing in BOA brings to light just how influential Spring was.

Changes in directors and staff in the early 2000s led to a steady decline in the program. Spring did have a bit of a resurgence in the late 2000s/early 2010s but was not able to rise to the level of their 1990s success. Over the last two decades, Spring attended Grand Nationals just twice, in 2002 and 2011. In both instances they made semi finals but failed to make finals. Much like Westfield, Spring has faded a bit the later half of this decade and has made fewer BOA appearances.

The Spring Legacy

Richard and Gayle Crain - BOA Hall of Fame

News Clips - A collection of local news footage from Houston after Spring won the 1993 Grand National title

[sethb811]

It's Bill Watson, not Watkins.

[boahistorybuff]

Feb 16, 2020 7:51:21 GMT -6 sethb811 said:

It's Bill Watson, not Watkins.

Fixed it. I am not sure why I wrote Watkins; must have been thinking Alfred Watkins of Lassiter.

[boahistorybuff]

#11 Choice - Center Grove HS (Trojans) from Greenwood, IN

Center Grove was a participant at the 1983 MBA Grand Nationals. I am not sure to what extent if any their other participation was in the MBA years of the late 70s and early 80s. Center Grove has participated in BOA regionals every year since 1990 and Grand Nationals every year since 1993. They have been a regional finalist somewhere between 50 and 60 times and have won 7 BOA regional titles. With the exception of 2019, they have been a Grand National semi finalist every year of the semi finals era. They are a 15-time Grand National finalist (93,95-03,05,07,09,10,12), a three time GN Class AAA Champion, have been runner-up to the GN title three times and are the 1995 Grand National Champions. Their win at the 1995 Grand Nationals broke a 14-year drought with no Indiana bands winning the GN title, the longest to date.

Center Grove has had a competitive marching band going all the way back to the early 1970s; the early years of the Indiana competitive marching circuit. They were however a small struggling band and nowhere near the level of their neighboring band Greenwood Community. In 1975, Thomas Dirks became director of the marching band. Under his leadership, the band underwent a slow but steady improving trend over the next several years. By the late 1980s, they had risen to the top echelon of Indiana bands and won their first state title in 1989. After their brief early 1980s appearance, they returned to BOA competition in 1990 which landed them their first regional title. After some ups and downs in the early 1990s, the Trojan band hit the jackpot in 1995 by winning the Grand National title. From 1995 to 1999 they had 5 consecutive top three finishes in GN finals. After the 2000 season, Mr. Dirks retired and turned the marching band program over to Kevin Shuessler. Over the last two decades, under Mr. Shuessler, the Trojan band has been consistent regional finalists and has had numerous additional appearances in Grand National finals.

During the latter half of the 1990s (their most successful in BOA), Center Grove delivered strong and often intense musical performances, which included a top notch percussion section. However, they really made a mark on the BOA scene with their innovative visual designs, which were certainly enhanced by their world class color guard and the level of demand placed on the band. Their 1995 GN winning show "A Journey into the Adventure Zone" was one of the most innovative shows of the decade in terms of tying the music and visuals into a centralized theme. That show introduced the concept of distortion (both musically and visually). Center Grove was one of the biggest pioneers in terms of using tarps to enhance the visual design of the show. Their use of tarps in their 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2003 shows in particular, showcased new ways in which tarps can enhance the visual design. Over the past two decades, Center Grove has put forth many shows that have been packed full of visual interest and innovations. Even over the more recent years of the late 2010s, Center Grove has pushed the envelope in terms of visual design. Although Center Grove has not made GN finals since 2012 (they were just one placement away in 2013 and 2018), they have remained a strong competitor even in the ever more competitive BOA circuit. I suspect that will continue into the 2020s.

Center Grove Accomplishments

MFA Trivia Tuesday Blog (1995 Grand Nationals)

Kevin Schuessler Interview 2017 BOA GN

2018 BOA GN Center Grove Drum Line

2000 Article in Indianapolis Monthly Magazine - Have to scroll a bit to get to the second half of the article.

[boahistorybuff]

#12 Choice - Lassiter HS (Trojans) from Marietta, GA

Lassiter is a band who despite their success did not participate in BOA every year of their glory years, which essentially spanned the late 1980s through the late 2000s. They took opportunities to travel for other experiences rather than just BOA. This included many Bowl Game Parades across the country. Since 1988, their debut in a BOA regional, Lassiter has been a regional finalist around 15 times, but have won 10 BOA regional titles. They only attended Grand Nationals 4 times (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002). Their GN debut in 1990 landed them in 5th place. They then had a 3rd place finish in 1994. In both 1998 and 2002, Lassiter won the Class AAA title and was crowned Grand National Champions. Their score at Grand National finals in 1998 was the highest BOA score of the 1990s. The Lassiter Trojan band is the only Georgia band to have won the Grand National title. They are of course a band that had they attended Grand Nationals more frequently would have had many more GN finals appearances and perhaps even another GN title under their belt.

Lassiter HS opened in 1981 and in 1982 hired Alfred Watkins to head the band program. Mr. Watkins built a strong symphonic band program during the course of the 1980s. By the early 1990s, Lassiter had a well renowned concert band program. The quality of their music program spilled over to the marching band. The marching band grew in size and strength during the course of the 1980s and early 1990s. In the 1990s, Lassiter developed an award winning indoor percussion ensemble and winter guard. These programs also had a strong influence on the marching band. By the early 1990s, the Lassiter marching band became known for the high quality of their music performances. Their visual scores tended to lag behind a bit. During the latter half of the 1990s, Lassiter embarked on a program to improve the visual quality of their performances. By 1998, they put forth a strong and demanding visual performance at Grand Nationals which combined with their music prowess made them hard to beat. Their high quality ensemble sound and strong demanding visual performances earned them their second GN title in 2002. What I find interesting is that they performed music from The Wind and the Lion in 1998 (and 1997 for that matter). Prior to 98, this was a common piece of music for marching bands. After 98, I can not think of another band playing this music in BOA (I am sure there were a few but certainly not like their were prior to 98). This makes me wonder if Lassiter's program was so strong it made other bands want to stay away from that music because they did not want to be compared to 98 Lassiter (ie it would be pretty hard for another band to top that 98 performance). During its glory years, Lassiter was not a band that put forth a lot of visual frills into their programs; although some of their drill sets were notable for how well this large band covered the field and for some fast drill transitions. Their focus was on showcasing their music. Looking at BOA bands in the years prior to 2010, I would include Lassiter as one of the very best in terms of the strength and quality of the musical performances they put forth on the field.

One of the reasons that Lassiter did not attend BOA every year and often attended less competitive regionals is that Mr. Watkins did not focus the band on competing so much as he did on just having them showcase a strong show. This seemed particularly the case after their second Grand National title. Lassiter did pick up one more regional win in 2013, the year after Mr Watkins retired. However, his retirement delivered a strong blow to this once powerful program. Yes Lassiter continues to have a strong band program, they are just not to the level of their glory years under Mr. Watkins direction.

Lassiter Band Accomplishments

Alfred Watkins - BOA Hall of Fame 2008

Alfred Watkins Interview

Lassiter Band: A Retrospective

[boahistorybuff]

#13 Choice - Lawrence Central HS (The Spirit of Central) from Indianapolis, IN

Lawrence Central participated in Bands of America Grand Nationals and Regionals every year between 1996 and 2013 with the exception of 1998. They have been a BOA regional finalist around 30 times and won 9 BOA regional titles. They are a 17-time GN finalist and are the 2001 and 2004 Bands of America Grand National Champions. I am uncertaintain how far back the Spirit of Central marching band's history extends. I do know that they had a competitive marching band throughout the 1980s and were a finalist in Indiana Class B State Championships multiple times in the 1980s. They participated in a BOA regional in 1985 but did not make finals. They also attended the 1985 Grand Nationals where they placed 35th. I guess they felt they were just not to the BOA level at that time because it would be nine years before they would return to BOA competition. During the 1980s and early 90s it was actually Lawrence North that was a state and national power. In the late 80s/early 90s Lawrence Central moved up to Class A in Indiana state competition but failed to make the state finals. In 1993, Randy Greenwell and Matt James were hired into Lawrence Central and took direction of the marching band. This director duo led the band to a massive improving trend over the next 2 to 4 years. They ended up winning their first Indiana Class A state title in 1997 and made their first appearance in Grand National finals in 1996. The band remained highly successful through the 2013 season under their direction.

I would consider Lawrence Central as one of the best bands ever in BOA from a marching perspective. They often had a very clean and high quality marching style. This combined with a world class color guard and unique and well executed drill design was a signature of Lawrence Central for many years. They ended up winning the visual performance award in GN finals four times. Had there been an award for color guard in late 90s and 2000s, I am sure they would have won several of them. Lawrence Central was also notable for experimenting with staging their pit in different places on the field and finding creative ways to build the design of their show around that. This was really notable in their 2001, 2008 and 2013 shows. While Lawrence Central was certainly a visual power, they did have some pretty spectacular music performances. I think their most impressive years from a musical standpoint occurred from the late 1990s into the early 2000s. I also have to mention that they had a pretty strong percussion section. They even centered a few of their shows around percussion (2011's Drumatic comes to mind).

After the 2013 season, the marching bands of Lawrence Central and Lawrence North merged to form the Marching Pride of Lawrence Township (MPLT). This marked an abrupt end to what was the Spirit of Central marching band. It is legal in BOA for a band to consist of multiple high schools as long as those schools are in the same school district. Randy Greenwell and Matt James did stay on through the start of the Lawrence Township marching band. Even with the combined bands, there have still been some hints of the old Lawrence Central that I notice from time to time in MPLT shows. MPLT did make Grand National finals in their debut year in 2014, but have not done so since (although their 2019 GN performance was pretty close). MPLT does remain a consistent BOA regional finalist and GN semi finalist and I do not see an end to that anytime soon.

Lawrence Central Marching Band Awards

Randy Greenwell - BOA Hall of Fame 2018

Matt James - BOA Hall of Fame 2018

2013 GN Finalist Feature

[boahistorybuff]

#14 Choice - LD Bell HS (The Blue Raider Band) from Hurst, TX

LD Bell was a BOA regional participant and finalist in 1991 (their first year in BOA), 1992 and 1995. They have participated in BOA regionals every year since 1997. As of the end of the 2019 season, these are Bell's accolades: LD Bell has been a BOA regional finalist between 40 and 45 times and are a 15-time BOA regional champion, which as of this writing gives them more regional titles than any other Texas band. These regional titles all occurred within the span of just 11 years and all but one of them were in the state of Texas (they won BOA St Louis in 2004). Since San Antonio was first made a super regional in 2003, LD Bell has won the San Antonio Super Regional 4 times (06,08,09,11), more than any other band to date. LD Bell is a 9-time BOA Grand National Finalist (01,03,05-10,13). They have been runner-up to the Grand National title three times and are the 2007 Band of America Class AAA and overall Grand National Champion.

Thanks to an online repository of Bell band videos that go all the way back into the 1960s (not every year is there but this is still fantastic), a much better glimpse of Bell's rich history has been unearthed. During the 1960s and early 1970s, LD Bell was very much a parade/half time (traditional) marching band. This was actually pretty typical for most high school bands back then. During their halftime shows, the band mainly just marched back and forth (parade style) from end zone to end zone across the field while they played. There was some changing of direction and some block drill segments but still very rudimentary. In the late 1970s, while still remaining very much of half time style band, they appeared to develop some corps style techniques. They added a color guard and their show designs were centered on the 50 yard line, not just marching back and forth across the field. This style continued into the early 1980s. It appears that with the addition of Dana Rothlesberger as director in 1984 that LD Bell transitioned fully over to a corps style band program. I believe it was around this time that they started competing in UIL marching band competitions. Joseph Grzybowski became head band director in 1988. He led the band through 2002. Under his direction, Bell underwent a slow but steady improving trend and grew in size. In 2000, they won their first UIL state title and BOA regional title (actually nabbed two regionals that year). In 2001, Bell made their first trip to Grand Nationals and made finals. In 2002, Jeremy Earnhart became director and led them to their Grand National title in 2007. Since 2009, Van Mathews has been director.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Bell often wowed the audience with their strong and powerful music performances, often times while doing fast and very difficult drill passes. They were the epitome of Texas marching bands; wonderful ensemble sound and great percussion. During the middle 2000s, under Jeremy Earnhard and with some staffing changes, LD Bell's shows become much more sophisticated. The show themes became more complex, the music was much more emotional and the visual designs were more imaginative. The mid 2000s into the early 2010s were the pinnacle of Bell's success. Their shows were not only more sophisticated and innovative, they really drew the audience in. The shows were both highly captivating and moving. This included a trilogy from 05 to 07. When thinking of Bell shows, for me what often comes to mind were their 06, 07, 09 and 2010 performances; all very unique and highly entertaining and of course extremely well performed. These shows were also notable in how well they delivered some pretty heavy emotions to the audience. They had some of the best shows in terms of general effect during the peak of their success. Bell's legacy continued almost seamlessly when Mr. Earnhart left Bell and Van Mathews took over. Staffing changes in the early 2010s did have some effect on the band program. This and the ever increasing level of competition at the Texas BOA regionals have caused the band to drop in placement in BOA Texas regionals; even failing to make super regional finals a couple times. Even though Bell has not attended Grand Nationals since 2013 and have not won a regional title since 2011, they remain a very strong program. Their success this past season in 2019 suggests they are not going anywhere anytime soon. Still hoping to see them return to Grand Nationals someday.

LD Bell Band Video Archive

Van Mathews Interview - 2010

Van Mathews Interview - 2018

2013 GN Finalist Feature

[boahistorybuff]

#15 Choice - Carmel HS (The Marching Greyhounds) from Carmel, IN

With the exception of 1993, Carmel has participated in BOA regionals every year since 1990. They have participated in BOA Grand Nationals every year since 1994. As of the end of the 2019 season, Carmel has been a regional finalist somewhere between 60 and 70 times. Given their participation in multiple regionals per season, over the last two decades, Carmel may have actually racked up more regional finals appearances than any other band. They are a 23-time regional champion, making them second only to Norwin in regional titles. They have also won regionals in more states than any other band, they even traveled to both Texas and California where they picked up a regional win. Carmel is a 24-time Grand National finalist (96-19). This gives them the second highest number of finals appearances behind Marian Catholic. Their streak of finals appearances began the year BOA went to the semi finals format. So together with Marian, they are the only bands who have been in GN semi finals every single year since this format began. In 20 of those GN finals appearances, they placed in the top 5 which is amazing. They are a four time GN class champion and have won 5 Grand National titles; 2005, 2012, 2016, 2017,2018. This includes a three peat. They have the second highest number of GN titles behind Marian.

In the early 1980s, Richard Saucedo became director of the Carmel marching band. He not only built the marching band program up, he also established a strong music education foundation at Carmel. By the end of his tenure, Carmel was a very well respected school district for its music education department. The band grew in size as it slowly improved during the course of the 1980s. In 1990, they won their first Indiana state title and made their first appearance at a BOA regional where they finished 2nd by a mere 0.05 points. After some ups and downs in the early 1990s, Carmel made their first appearance in GN finals in 1996. They have not looked back since. Carmel quickly became a band that was strong on all fronts. This included of course solid music performances, aided by some extraordinary percussion. They exhibited good marching technique. During the late 90s and into the 2000s, they often had some very demanding drill routines. They also had a very good, world class color guard. Their long time director, Mr. Saucedo is also a composer. He composed many pieces specifically for Carmel's marching band, including their first GN winning show in 2005. So they have performed many pieces of music that no other band has ever performed. Mr. Saucedo retired from Carmel after their second GN title in 2012. Chris Kreke took over as director, assisted by a team that included Michael Pote, Andy Cook and Kyle Young. The team of directors, instructors and designers carried Carmel through their three peat in the late 2010s. In fact, four of their five GN titles came in the 2010s, impressive seeing how competitive this last decade has been. These wins this past decade have included some very iconic shows and featured some unbelievable music performances. Carmel is also a band that has showcased its strong orchestral program in some of its shows. Most notable was their 2018 show where they brought an entire orchestra onto the field at the end. As of this writing, Carmel still has one of the strongest music programs in the country. I do not see that changing any time soon. In fact, I would not be surprised if someday, Carmel overtakes Norwin for regional titles and overtakes Marian for number of GN finals appearances and GN titles. Time will tell.

Richard Saucedo BOA Hall of Fame - 2015

Richard Saucedo Interview

Another Saucedo Interview

Half Time Magazine Article

2012 Carmel Season Highlights

2013 Finalist Feature

2014 Finalist Feature

2015 Finalist Feature

2016 Finalist Feature

2017 Finalist Feature

2018 Finalist Feature

2018 Michael Pote Interview

2018 Article

[boahistorybuff]

#16 Choice - Ronald Reagan HS (Rattlers) from San Antonio, TX

I was actually contemplating this band and one other for a top 20. I decided on Reagan. I had a hard time leaving the other band out. So I decided to go with a top 21. That other band will be the number 21 choice. Reagan's success in the early to mid 2000s was a bit too brief to consider as a hall of fame band. However, their resurgence the latter half of the 2010s (together with what they did in the 2000s) is what led me to my decision to include this band in the hall of fame list. As of the end of the 2019 season, Reagan has been a BOA regional finalist between 45 and 50 times over the last two decades. They have won 11 BOA regional titles, including 3 wins at the San Antonio super regional. This gives them the second highest number of regional wins for a Texas band. They are a 5-time BOA Grand National finalist (02,03,05,12,16). Had they attended more frequently, they would have more appearances under their belt. They are the 2005 GN Class AAA Champion. Even though they have yet to win the GN title, they were runners-up to the GN title twice (2003 and 2005).

Ronald Reagan HS opened in 1999 to service an exploding suburban population boom on the outskirts of San Antonio. Many of the students came from the existing band program at neighboring Winston Churchill HS. Mark Chambers was hired as director of the marching band. Under his direction and a high quality staff, the Reagan band had a meteoric rise to the top in the first few years of the 2000s. They entered BOA competition in 2000 and were already placing in the top echelon of bands at the Texas BOA regionals. They won their first BOA regional in 2001, attended Grand Nationals and made finals for the first time in 2002 and then nearly won the GN title in 2003.  During the early to mid 2000s, Reagan's shows really stood out among other Texas bands. Reagan was not just strong musically, they featured unique and very innovative visual designs. In my opinion, their 2003 show featured the best drill design of any band during the entire decade. In 2002, they did a trick with changing their plume colors (they expanded on it in 2003) which was not only highly effective, it was copied by other bands for years. After the 2006 season, Mark Chambers left Ronald Reagan. His departure and the loss of some students due to redistricting (this included the addition of Claudia Taylor Johnson HS) had an adverse impact on the band which lasted from 2007 into the early 2010s. While the band was still a frequent regional finalist and put forth some entertaining shows, they were unable to place in the top group of Texas bands at BOA regionals. In the 2010s, under the direction of Dan Morrison, the band reemerged as a Texas power. Their music performances became stronger and more powerful and were balanced by often times fast and difficult visual routines. This led them to rise back to the top in Texas BOA regionals. In 2019, the won the San Antonio super regional, beating the band who would go on and win the Grand National title later that season. Their 2019 show was the strongest I had ever seen this band. So I have high expectations for this band in the coming decade.

About the Reagan Band

2016 GN Finalist Feature

Dan Morrison Feature

2016 Video Clip

 

[boahistorybuff]

# 17 Choice - Broken Arrow HS (The Pride of Broken Arrow) from Broken Arrow, OK

Broken Arrow has participated in BOA regionals consistently since 1994. As of the end of the 2019 season, they have been a regional finalist between 28 and 30 times. They have been a BOA regional champion 17 times. In fact, they have won every regional that they have participated in since 2007. That makes 14 consecutive regional titles; a BOA record. No other band is even close to that record. Of those regional wins, they have been the St Louis Super Regional Champion every year since 2007, except 2012 the year they did not attend. They have been a Grand National Finalist 15 times; 98 - 01, 06 - 12, 14, 15, 17, 18. They are a two time BOA GN Class 4A Champion, have been runner-up to the GN title four times and are a three time Grand National Champion; 2006, 2011 and 2015.

The Pride of Broken Arrow has had a competitive marching band going way back into the 1970s. During the 1980s, they were a state of Oklahoma power and picked up several state titles, usually in a tight battle with their rival Union. BA did attend the 1982 MBA Grand Nationals but failed to make finals. They were just not ready for BOA I guess. In the early 1990s, Scott Tomlinson became director of Broken Arrow. He led the band on a near decade-long improving trend. Under his direction, BA attended their first BOA regional in 1994. They won their first BOA regional title (in St Louis of course) in 1997 and made Grand National finals for the first time in 1998. During the early to mid 2000s, Darren Davis took the helm of the Broken Arrow marching band. He assembled an even larger staff which included the designer Wes Cartwright. This resulted in a notable uptick in their shows, particularly with respect to audience appeal. It took a few years for things to really come together for BA. In fact, they just missed making GN finals in both 2003 and 2005. Then in 2006, they hit the jackpot and won their first GN title. Broken Arrow has not looked back since. Broken Arrow is a band that has year after year seemed to find the sweet spot with both the judges and the audience. Several of their shows over the last decade and a half are BOA classics; 2006 Aqua, 2010 ZO and 2014 FACEme come to mind. Well, you could almost argue that all BA shows over the last 15 years are classics. From a musical standpoint, BA has not only had some powerful musical moments, I would consider them one of the best bands in terms of delivering emotion through their music. Their visual designs have also had the ability to flow seamlessly with the music. For this reason, Broken Arrow has often garnered very high general effect scores. Of course, their visual prowess has become legendary; both their marching technique and their innovation with body movements throughout their shows. I would of course by amiss if I did not mention the legendary Broken Arrow flags. I don't think any other band has utilized swing flags like Broken Arrow. As of this writing, Broken Arrow remains one of the best marching bands in the country, something I don't see changing anytime soon.

Broken Arrow Marching Band History

Darren Davis - BOA Hall of Fame

Pride of Broken Arrow Documentary

2012 From the Field

2014 Finalist Feature

2015 Finalist Feature

2017 Finalist Feature

2018 Show; A Look Back

Just a Really Cool Article

[boahistorybuff]

#18 Choice - Avon HS (The Marching Black and Gold) from Avon, IN

As of the end of the 2019 season, Avon has been a BOA regional finalist around 40 times and have won 12 BOA regional titles. Avon has been a BOA GN semi finalist every year since 1997 and are an 18-time Grand National finalist (01, 03-19). Avon has won 5 GN class titles in three different classes. They are a three time Grand National Champion; 08, 09, 10. As impressive as the three GN titles are, that actually does not give a full picture of just how successful Avon has been at Grand Nationals. They have been runner-up to the GN title 6 times, giving them more second place finishes than any other band. They have also finished in the top three in Grand National finals every year from 2007 to 2019. That makes 13 consecutive years of top three finishes in Grand Nationals. Not only is that a BOA record, no other band is even close to that record; not even Marian or Carmel. Considering how competitive Grand Nationals has become this past decade, that is an extraordinary accomplishment. Avon has also won (or tied) the visual performance award in GN finals nine times. Not only is this a BOA record, it is more than double any other band.

Looking back at some historic Indiana marching band results, Avon has had a competitive marching band going back at least into the 1960s. In 1993, Jay Webb took over direction of the marching band. He brought them into BOA competition in the late 1990s. I believe their first Grand National appearance came in 1997. During the late 1990s, Avon was a mid sized school band program (Class AA in BOA and Class B in Indiana State Competition). Size wise, they were a significantly smaller band than what they are today. While they were a good band (solidly making GN Semi Finals), they were no where near finals caliber. During the early 2000s, the Avon school district and in turn Avon HS and the marching band underwent rapid growth. By 2003, the size of the band nearly doubled and they jumped into the large school class at both BOA and Indiana competition. Under Mr. Webb's leadership, the quality of the band also improved as rapidly as the band grew, so much so that by the mid 2000s they were an Indiana and BOA power house. They have not looked back since. Avon has become a band that tackles an extremely difficult visual package with an incredible amount of confidence, and they play extremely well while doing so. One of the things I love about Avon is that the faster they play, the faster they move. Their record number of visual performance awards showcase just how strong this band has been on the visual front; this includes both marching technique and drill execution. I also have to mention their extraordinary color guard; including some of the best rifle moments ever in BOA. They have also delivered some highly impactful musical moments, which have included some amazing percussion performances. So if I had to sum up Avon in a few words, it would be Power, Confidence, Control, and Consistency. Jay Webb has taken on a semi retired roll with the Avon marching band the last few years. The director team of Matt Harloff, Karl Hartman, Bob Burns, Daniel Wiles and Lee Allman are doing an excellent job continuing the Avon legacy. I see this band remaining a BOA power for many years to come.

About the Avon Band

Jay Webb - Educators Who Made A Difference

2009 Halftime Magazine Article

2013 Finalist Feature

2014 Finalist Feature

2015 Finalist Feature

2016 Finalist Feature

2017 Finalist Feature

Avon 2018 - How we got the shot

2018 Show Explanation

2019 State Finals Excerpts

A Harloff History

Matt Harloff and Avon

Jay Webb Interview - 2012

Jay Webb Interview - 2017

WGI Hall of Fame - Avon

[boahistorybuff]

#19 Choice - The Tarpon Springs Outdoor Performance Ensemble (Spongers) from Tarpon Springs, FL

As of the end of the 2019 season, these are the accomplishments for Tarpon Springs. They have been a consistent BOA regional finalist every year since 1996 and have been a finalist between 40 and 45 times. They have won 21 BOA regional titles. They have been a Grand National finalist every year that they have attended, which makes them a 13-time Grand National finalist (97,98,00,01,03,05,06,08,10,12,14,16,18). Had they attended every year since 1997 they had the goods to make finals every year. They are a 10-time BOA Grand National Class Champion (1 AAA title and 9 AA titles). This makes them the band with the second highest number of GN Class titles behind Marian. They are also the 2014 BOA Grand National Champion.

From what I can tell, prior to 1994, Tarpon Springs was a small and somewhat unaccomplished marching band. In 1994, Kevin Ford took over direction of the band. He instituted a more rigorous practice schedule and really transformed this marching band, and the entire music program at Tarpon from what I can tell. Within just two years, he led Tarpon to their first BOA regional in Atlanta, where they were not only a finalist, they finished near the top. After just four seasons with the marching band, he led them to their first Grand National Championships. Not only did they make finals, they finished 4th. This band has not looked back since. When Tarpon burst onto the scene in the mid to late 1990s, they were actually a really small band (less than 90 members). During the 2000s, they continued to have a small band (less than 110 members in most years). They proved that you do not need to be a big band to have a huge impact or to just be plain awesome. During the late 2000s into the 2010s, the size of the Tarpon Band swelled to around 200 members. It was not so much an increase in the size of the school that caused this but more because Tarpon Springs developed what they call the Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory For the Arts, which makes them a magnet school for the performing arts. This allowed the band to draw more students who would have an interest in band then say a typical public school their size.

From the moment Tarpon burst onto the BOA scene, they had among the most innovative designs. They were one of the bands who really revolutionized the way props and tarps were used in a show, not just staging or design but how the band interacted with those props. Also have to mention that they did this all while performing very demanding music with often times fast and athletic visual routines. They were one of the earliest bands that when I saw them I used to think to myself how much conditioning they had to go through to do all that movement and still play the way they do. That trend has really taken hold with other bands in recent years. Watching Tarpon shows has always been like watching a play set to music; hence the whole outdoor performance ensemble. This has made them a consistent must see band in BOA with some of the most memorable shows in BOA history. Over this last decade, Tarpon has continued to be among the most innovative bands in BOA. This includes putting some of the most elaborate props onto the field. I have to imagine that they have had some of the most costly productions in BOA history. Despite this and the massive growth in the band this past decade, they are better than ever. I also have to note that Tarpon has had some of the most wickedly difficult woodwind features over the years. As of this writing, Kevin Ford is still director of the band and Tarpon Springs shows no signs of slowing down.

A little bit out the Outdoor Performance Ensemble

Info on Kevin Ford

BOA Hall of Fame - Kevin Ford

2014 GN Finalist Feature

2016 GN Finalist Feature

2018 GN Director Interview

Tarpons Approach to their Shows

2014 Tarpon Springs Behind the Scenes

2014 A Day With Tarpon Video

[boahistorybuff]

Again, there will be a top 21.

#20 Choice - The Woodlands HS (Highlanders) from The Woodlands, TX

As of the end of the 2019 season, The Woodlands has made BOA regional finals at every single regional they have competed in since the opening of the high school in 1996. They have been a regional finalist around 45 times. They are a three time BOA regional champion. The Woodlands is a 10-time Grand National finalist (02,04,06,07,09,11,13,15,17,19). This makes them the Texas band with the most appearances in Grand National finals. Had they attended every year since 2002, they would have many more appearances under their belt. They are also a two time GN Class Champion and are the 2013 Grand National Champion.

The Woodlands HS opened in 1996 following the closure of nearby McCullough HS. McCullough had been participating in BOA regionals in Texas and was a two time regional finalist. The band program at McCullough essentially moved to The Woodlands when it opened. Brett Johnson became director of the marching band. Under his direction, the band grew in size and quality. Their first trip to Grand Nationals in 1998 landed them in Semi Finals but they fell short of finals. They first made GN finals in 2002 and have not looked back since. The peak in The Woodlands success during Mr. Johnson's tenure came in 2006 and 2007 with their slightly whimsical yet powerful performances and back to back fourth place GN finals finishes. Mr. Johnson retired after the 2009 season and Joni Perez became director of the marching band. Not only did she keep The Woodlands on its path, she directed the band through its most successful years during the early 2010s, including their 2013 championship season. For many years, The Woodlands created a signature W in their drill design at key moments in their shows and often featured some of the best execution of diagonal lines. The Woodlands has given BOA many great and powerful musical performances over the years. This has included some amazing brass features. One of the things that has always seemed to be the case with me every time I see The Woodlands in competition is that I think they deserve a higher score/placement than what they end up getting; 2013 being an exception seeing as they won. Given their 2019 season, which featured a much more innovative show theme/design than in years past, The Woodlands appears set to remain a Texas and BOA power for years to come.

The Woodlands History and Awards

Halftime Magazine Article - 2019

Conroe News Article - 2013

2013 Finalist Feature

2015 finalist feature

2017 Finalist Feature

2018 Show Highlights

2019 - A Performers Perspective

2019 - A Designers Perspective

[LeanderMomma]

TWHS is definitely worthy to be in your HOF.

[boahistorybuff]

# 21 Choice - Kennesaw Mountain HS (Mustangs) from Kennesaw, GA

As of the end of the 2019 season, Kennesaw Mountain has been a BOA regional finalist between 30 and 35 times. They are a 6-time BOA regional champion. They are an 8-time BOA Grand National finalist (02,03,04,06,08,10,12,14), a 3-time GN Class AAA Champion and were runner-up to the Grand National title in 2004. Kennesaw Mountain has had more appearances in Grand National finals than any other Georgia band. Had they attended Grand Nationals every year, they had the goods to be a finalist every year from 2002 to 2014.

Kennesaw Mountain opened in 2000 and hired David Starnes as the band director. While the students came to this new high school from existing band programs, the rapid growth and ascent of the marching band was nothing short of miraculous. Kennesaw Mountain made their BOA debut in 2001 and made regional finals. By 2002, they won their first BOA regional and made Grand National finals. This two year period is the shortest time span a band has gone from opening of the high school to making Grand National finals (KM has Reagan and CTJ beat by one year). This rapid growth and improvement continued into 2004 when they almost won the Grand National title. Their success persisted into the 2010s. During much of the 2000s, KM was unique in that it featured themes that on the outside seemed rather simplistic, often having a child-like appeal. The visual designs and music were anything but simplistic. In 2003, they packed a ton of various musical selections into one show, sometimes with two different songs played about on top of each other. It was a masterpiece in musical arranging which has become much more common in BOA this past decade. Mr. Starnes left KM after the 2011 season and was replaced with David McGrath, the former director of the 1999 Grand National champion PCEP marching band. His first season with the band in 2012 featured a little more aggressive KM who took on a little more difficulty. I was fully expecting the band to be contenders for the eagle in future seasons. That unfortunately did not happen. Kennesaw Mountain was opened as a magnate school for math and science. In the 2010s, KM placed more graduation requirements on their juniors and seniors that made it difficult if not impossible for them to remain in marching band. Despite the loss of most of their juniors and seniors, KM did make GN finals one more time in 2014. That however has been their last appearance in GN finals. The loss of most of their juniors and seniors has resulted in KM having a much smaller band and obviously the loss of the experience and leadership of upperclassmen has been a detriment to the marching band. KM as remained a consistent regional finalist and did make GN Semi Finals in 2018. I hope someday the school makes it easier for upperclassmen to be in the marching band. I would love to see this band return to being a top level BOA power.

About the Kennesaw Mountain Marching Band

KM Video Playlist

David Starnes - BOA Hall of Fame 2019

2014 KM Finalist Feature

[boahistorybuff]

To recap, my top 21:

Live Oak, CA
Rocky Mount, NC
Norwin, PA
Marian Catholic, IL
Westfield, TX
Centerville, OH
Lake Park, IL
Plymouth-Canton, MI
Kiski Area, PA
Spring, TX
Center Grove, IN
Lassiter, GA
Lawrence Central, IN
LD Bell, TX
Carmel, IN
Ronald Reagan, TX
Broken Arrow, OK
Avon, IN
Tarpon Springs, FL
The Woodlands, TX
Kennesaw Mountain, GA

[boahistorybuff]

These are bands currently doing great things, who may someday be added to this list. These are bands that are either new on the scene or have been around awhile but still doing great stuff. In random order they are:

William Mason HS from Mason, OH

Homestead HS from Forth Wayne, IN

Blue Springs HS from Blue Springs, MO

Wando HS from Mount Pleasant, SC

Union HS from Tulsa, OK

Marcus HS from Flower Mound, TX

Flower Mound HS from Flower Mound, TX

Hebron HS from Carrolton, TX

Vandegrift HS from Austin, TX

Claudia Taylor Johnson HS from San Antonio, TX

Leander HS from Leander, TX

Vista Ridge HS from Cedar Park, TX

James Bowie HS from Austin, TX

Round Rock HS from Round Rock, TX

Ayala HS from Chino Hills, CA

These are my honorary mention list; bands that were once BOA power houses from past eras that did not quite make the list;

West Genesee HS from Camillus, NY

Cicero North Syracuse HS from Cicero, NY

Liverpool HS from Liverpool, NY

JM Tate HS from Gonzalez, FL

George Rogers Clark HS from Winchester, KY

Westerville South HS from Westerville, OH

Flushing HS from Flushing, MI

Chesterton HS from Chesterton, IN

Northrop HS from Fort Wayne, IN

Ben Davis HS from Indianapolis, IN

Lawrence North HS from Indianapolis, IN

Conant HS from Hoffman Estates, IL

Stephen F Austin HS from Sugarland, TX

Winston Churchill HS from San Antonio, TX

Independence HS from San Jose, CA

[boahistorybuff]

Small school hall of fame.

Since there have been a ton of small schools over the decades, and many of these small school bands did great stuff (many of which just did not have longevity, in some cases only one year of BOA success) I have compiled a list of the top 41 small school bands in BOA history. They also represent all of the different eras of BOA. Note: some Class A bands (Robinson (TX) and Motezuma-Cortex (CO)) have a ton of regional Class A titles because they were the only small school band at most of the regionals. So I do not include these. Hopefully I did not leave someone out, of course I am sure there is debate on who should also be on the list. The list includes bands that had a ton of success as a Class A band. Some of the bands did however bounce between Class A and Class AA.

In Random/Somewhat Geographic Order:


Hanover HS from Hanover, PA

Academy/Erie Central HS from Erie, PA

Northwestern Lehigh HS from New Tripoli, PA

Bassett HS from Bassett, VA

Fieldale-Collinsville HS from Collinsville, VA

Sylva-Webster HS (now Smoky Mountain HS) from Sylva, NC

Croatan HS from Newport, NC

Saint James School from Montgomery, AL

Kosciusko HS from Kosciusko, MS

Jackson Academy from Jackson, MS

Fred J Page HS from Franklin, TN

Father Ryan HS from Nashville, TN

Union City HS from Union City, TN

Murray HS from Murray, KY

Danville HS from Danville, KY

Hazard HS from Hazard, KY

Elizabethtown HS from Elizabethtown, KY

Adair County HS from Columbia, KY

Williamstown HS from Williamstown, KY

Beechwood HS from Fort Mitchell, KY

Bourbon County HS from Paris, KY

Carroll HS from Dayton, OH

New Philadelphia HS from New Philadelphia, OH

Marlington HS from Alliance, OH

Bellbrook HS from Bellbrook, OH

Norton HS from Norton, OH

Archbishop Alter HS from Kettering, OH

Durand Area HS from Durand, MI

Chesaning Union HS from Chesaning, MI

Tell City HS from Tell City, IN

Paoli HS from Paoli, IN

Maconaquah HS from Bunker Hill, IN

Western HS from Russiaville, IN

Owen Valley HS from Spencer, IN

Norwell HS from Ossian, IN

Forest Park HS from Ferdinand, IN

Lewis Cass HS from Walton, IN

Monticello HS from Monticello, IL

Herscher HS from Herscher, IL

Oskaloosa HS from Oskaloosa, IA

Hidalgo HS from Hidalgo, TX

[Allohak]

Great work as always Buff!

[abtwitch]

I'd like to make an argument for Hidalgo to be on the list, as they have made finals at BOA McAllen quite a few times and even though it isn't BOA, it's worth mentioning they are consistent state finalists as well.

[boahistorybuff]

Jun 7, 2020 12:48:58 GMT -6 abtwitch said:

I'd like to make an argument for Hidalgo to be on the list, as they have made finals at BOA McAllen quite a few times and even though it isn't BOA, it's worth mentioning they are consistent state finalists as well.

Done.

I suppose it is hard to have a hall of fame list without at least one Texas band on there, even for small schools.