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Post by hostrauser on Aug 3, 2021 17:13:38 GMT -6
First band out of Finals at Grand Nationals
2019: Fishers H.S., IN | 88.750 (-0.95) 2018: Center Grove H.S., IN | 87.175 (-0.35) 2017: Homestead H.S., IN | 89.500 (-0.30) 2016: Vista Murrieta H.S., CA | 88.00 (-0.30) 2015: Franklin H.S., TN | 89.05 (-0.60) 2014: Owasso H.S., OK | 87.50 (-0.55) 2013: Center Grove H.S., IN | 88.30 (-1.10) 2012: Union H.S., OK | 85.25 (-0.15) 2011: Spring H.S., TX | 85.40 (-1.60) 2010: Plymouth-Canton E.P., MI | 87.20 (-0.20) 2009: Plymouth-Canton E.P., MI | 86.45 (-2.05) 2008: Lake Central H.S., IN | 86.50 (-0.75) 2007: Centerville H.S., OH | 89.85 (-0.65) 2006: Centerville H.S., OH | 87.55 (-1.00) 2005: Castle H.S., IN | 86.15 (-0.50) 2004: Center Grove H.S., IN | 85.15 (-1.45) 2003: Seminole H.S., FL | 87.95 (-1.55) 2002: Centerville H.S., OH | 87.40 (-0.15) 2001: Alan C. Pope H.S., GA | 88.40 (-0.10) 2000: Ooltewah H.S., TN | 87.30 (-0.70) 1999: Northmont H.S., OH | 82.05 (-2.10) 1998: Pomona H.S., CO | 88.20 (-0.40) 1997: Pomona H.S., CO | 88.20 (-0.10) 1996: Irmo H.S., SC | 87.85 (-0.50) 1995: Mona Shores H.S., MI | 85.95 (-0.10) 1994: Union H.S., OK | 88.60 (-0.35) 1993: Central Cabarrus H.S., NC | 83.50 (-3.35) 1992: Castle H.S., IN | 88.20 (-0.35) 1991: Jenison H.S., MI | 86.90 (-0.80) 1990: Central Cabarrus H.S., NC | 88.00 (-0.40) 1989: Westerville South H.S., OH | 84.40 (-1.55) 1988: Grenada H.S., MS | 87.30 (-0.05) 1987: Carroll H.S., OH | 80.85 (-0.15) 1986: Grenada H.S., MS | 80.55 (-0.45) 1985: Centerville H.S., OH | 82.05 (-0.25)
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Post by Marching Observer on Aug 3, 2021 19:35:41 GMT -6
Now arrange the list from closest to making it to furthest because I'm lazy 🦥😂
Cool list though!
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Post by boahistorybuff on Aug 4, 2021 5:53:22 GMT -6
Grenada MS missed by just 0.05 in 1988, the closest near-miss. This was after their last appearance in Grand Nationals in 86 also landed them in the unlucky number 13 spot. Grenada tried to make finals again in 1991 but fell short. They never did make GN Finals.
A few asterisks to note:
1995 (the last year of the Prelims/Finals format) 14 bands were selected for finals. So Mona Shores was a 15th place performance.
1996 and 1997 (the first two years of the Prelims/Semi Finals/Finals format, only the top 10 bands from semi finals were selected for finals). So 1996 Irmo and 1997 Pomona were 11th place finishes.
2016 there was a tie for 12th place in semi finals, so 13 bands were selected for finals. So Vista Murrieta was actually in 14th place.
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Post by srv1084 on Aug 4, 2021 8:27:18 GMT -6
Interesting stuff. I can't help but wonder how coming close but not making it a number of times has impacted some of these bands. I know of at least one that was so frustrated with the competitive scene that they no longer even field a competitive band program, and I imagine one or two others were frustrated enough to pull their BOA participation altogether (wondering about you, Pomona).
Curious if others have thoughts on bands they were surprised to see on the outside looking in for any of these years. While there were others that finished beyond the 13th spot that felt like finals locks to me (looking at you, Ayala 2007 - 7th in music, 9th GE, 7th visual GE but 23rd in visual.....), of the "first out" bands I've got Fishers 2019, Center Grove 2018, Vista Murrieta 2016, Seminole 2003, and Pomona 1997.
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Post by Allohak on Aug 4, 2021 10:25:36 GMT -6
Interesting stuff. I can't help but wonder how coming close but not making it a number of times has impacted some of these bands. I know of at least one that was so frustrated with the competitive scene that they no longer even field a competitive band program, and I imagine one or two others were frustrated enough to pull their BOA participation altogether (wondering about you, Pomona). Curious if others have thoughts on bands they were surprised to see on the outside looking in for any of these years. While there were others that finished beyond the 13th spot that felt like finals locks to me (looking at you, Ayala 2007 - 7th in music, 9th GE, 7th visual GE but 23rd in visual.....), of the "first out" bands I've got Fishers 2019, Center Grove 2018, Vista Murrieta 2016, Seminole 2003, and Pomona 1997. Franklin springs to mind. They were very close a few times in a row and have never gotten over the hump, while others of similar level in those years (looking at Dobyns-Bennett, Castle, O'Fallon) did/have
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Post by dbalash on Aug 4, 2021 12:34:02 GMT -6
Now arrange the list from closest to making it to furthest because I'm lazy 🦥😂 Cool list though! 1988: Grenada H.S., MS | 87.30 (-0.05) 2001: Alan C. Pope H.S., GA | 88.40 (-0.10) 1997: Pomona H.S., CO | 88.20 (-0.10) 1995: Mona Shores H.S., MI | 85.95 (-0.10) 2002: Centerville H.S., OH | 87.40 (-0.15) 2012: Union H.S., OK | 85.25 (-0.15) 1987: Carroll H.S., OH | 80.85 (-0.15) 2010: Plymouth-Canton E.P., MI | 87.20 (-0.20) 1985: Centerville H.S., OH | 82.05 (-0.25) 2016: Vista Murrieta H.S., CA | 88.00 (-0.30) 2017: Homestead H.S., IN | 89.500 (-0.30) 1994: Union H.S., OK | 88.60 (-0.35) 1992: Castle H.S., IN | 88.20 (-0.35) 2018: Center Grove H.S., IN | 87.175 (-0.35) 1998: Pomona H.S., CO | 88.20 (-0.40) 1990: Central Cabarrus H.S., NC | 88.00 (-0.40) 1986: Grenada H.S., MS | 80.55 (-0.45) 1996: Irmo H.S., SC | 87.85 (-0.50) 2005: Castle H.S., IN | 86.15 (-0.50) 2014: Owasso H.S., OK | 87.50 (-0.55) 2015: Franklin H.S., TN | 89.05 (-0.60) 2007: Centerville H.S., OH | 89.85 (-0.65) 2000: Ooltewah H.S., TN | 87.30 (-0.70) 2008: Lake Central H.S., IN | 86.50 (-0.75) 1991: Jenison H.S., MI | 86.90 (-0.80) 2019: Fishers H.S., IN | 88.750 (-0.95) 2006: Centerville H.S., OH | 87.55 (-1.00) 2013: Center Grove H.S., IN | 88.30 (-1.10) 2004: Center Grove H.S., IN | 85.15 (-1.45) 2003: Seminole H.S., FL | 87.95 (-1.55) 1989: Westerville South H.S., OH | 84.40 (-1.55) 2011: Spring H.S., TX | 85.40 (-1.60) 2009: Plymouth-Canton E.P., MI | 86.45 (-2.05) 1999: Northmont H.S., OH | 82.05 (-2.10) 1993: Central Cabarrus H.S., NC | 83.50 (-3.35)
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Post by boahistorybuff on Aug 4, 2021 15:07:52 GMT -6
Interesting stuff. I can't help but wonder how coming close but not making it a number of times has impacted some of these bands. I know of at least one that was so frustrated with the competitive scene that they no longer even field a competitive band program, and I imagine one or two others were frustrated enough to pull their BOA participation altogether (wondering about you, Pomona). Curious if others have thoughts on bands they were surprised to see on the outside looking in for any of these years. While there were others that finished beyond the 13th spot that felt like finals locks to me (looking at you, Ayala 2007 - 7th in music, 9th GE, 7th visual GE but 23rd in visual.....), of the "first out" bands I've got Fishers 2019, Center Grove 2018, Vista Murrieta 2016, Seminole 2003, and Pomona 1997. I know that there was some frustration with BOA upon the part of Mona Shores HS MI. Yes they were the first band out in 1995. They also came close in 1993. That 1995 placement was very controversial. There were many who strongly felt that they should have been in finals over American Fork. I personally think it was a toss up. For Mona Shores, their biggest frustration came in 1999. They easily beat Reeths-Puffer for the Mi Flight II State Title. Then only a week (or two) later, Reeths-Puffer beat them handedly at Grand Nationals, winning the Class AA Title and making Grand National Finals. Mona Shores, however, was several placements down. Although that experience did not end their BOA participation completely, they did participate in BOA much less frequently after that. Despite whatever frustrations they may have had with BOA, in the MCBA circuit they were highly successful. They won several state titles between 1993 and 2003. I think the retirement of their longtime director Jack Adams affected the program a lot in the mid 2000s. I heard that they were also also struggling with staffing. During the 1990s, their visual designer was the acclaimed Gary Czapinski. I am not sure when he stopped designing for them. His designs and director Jack Adams really proved a good combo for the band in the 1990s. In the mid 2000s, there were some financial constraints in the program, at least from what I understand. The new director(s) wanted to focus more on music education (I am assuming concert band type activities) and not have to be burdened with spending so much time and money on a competitive marching band program. So after the 2006 season, they stopped being a competitive marching band. As for Pomona CO, they blew us away in their only appearance in Grand National Finals in 1996. To this day I still feel they should have been in finals in 1997 (and they would have if BOA went with a top 12). Pomona also finished as high as second at a BOA regional, never managing to win a regional title. I am unsure as to why they have stopped competing in BOA. I am sure for metro Denver area bands, travel expenses play a big part.
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Post by Allohak on Aug 4, 2021 15:55:22 GMT -6
I am sure for metro Denver area bands, travel expenses play a big part. A friend of mine from my college days is a director at a Denver-area school, and I can vouch for this very much being the case. The closest BOA event being a 12-plus-hour bus ride is...not easy on participation. Denver to: Flagstaff 646 miles Midland 665 miles St. George 734 miles St. Louis 849 miles
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Post by hostrauser on Aug 4, 2021 16:04:16 GMT -6
As for Pomona CO, they blew us away in their only appearance in Grand National Finals in 1996. To this day I still feel they should have been in finals in 1997 (and they would have if BOA went with a top 12). Pomona also finished as high as second at a BOA regional, never managing to win a regional title. I am unsure as to why they have stopped competing in BOA. I am sure for metro Denver area bands, travel expenses play a big part. W.L. Whaley didn't retire until 2007, so it wasn't a band director change. Whaley took over at Pomona in 1987, when the band had 35 kids. In less than a decade he built a 200-member juggernaut that dominated Colorado for almost 20 years. After he left, though, Pomona gradually fell apart. The band now is a shadow of what it once was. Side note: Whaley was also band director at Broken Arrow in the late 1970s.
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Post by Uncle Baby Billy on Aug 5, 2021 11:31:19 GMT -6
I believe Reeths-Puffer to be the weakest to make Grand National Finals in at least the past 30 years. A close second is Webster in 1997 (I would boycott forever if I was Pomona). 1999 was strong at the top (PCEP, Marian, Center Grove, Carmel) but if there was a year to gripe about if you are Mona Shores, it's 1999 for sure. I am sure for metro Denver area bands, travel expenses play a big part. A friend of mine from my college days is a director at a Denver-area school, and I can vouch for this very much being the case. The closest BOA event being a 12-plus-hour bus ride is...not easy on participation. Denver to: Flagstaff 646 miles Midland 665 miles St. George 734 miles St. Louis 849 miles
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Post by boahistorybuff on Aug 6, 2021 12:33:30 GMT -6
I believe Reeths-Puffer to be the weakest to make Grand National Finals in at least the past 30 years. A close second is Webster in 1997 (I would boycott forever if I was Pomona). 1999 was strong at the top (PCEP, Marian, Center Grove, Carmel) but if there was a year to gripe about if you are Mona Shores, it's 1999 for sure In terms of score, the lowest two scores at Grand National Finals going back to 1991 was Reeths-Puffer (1999) with an 82.50 and American Fork (1995) with an 82.20. Of course American Fork was a 14th place finals position. I think in those instances and with Webster in 1997, there was a bit of a gap in performance level between those bands and the next highest scoring band(s). Also keep in mind that the competitive field back in the 90s was not often as deep as it has been say the last 20 years.
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Post by Uncle Baby Billy on Aug 6, 2021 15:06:05 GMT -6
BOA GN was usually very top heavy in the 90s, with a significant drop-off after Finalist 5 or 6. 1997's 10 Band Finals though was different & probably included the greatest imbalance of power of the era. Two legitimate Eagle contenders (Marian & Center Grove), followed by two solid bands (Lake Park & Tarpon Springs), a pretty significant drop (Lawrence, Carmel, PCEP) & further. Ten bands made finals & the 10th place band (Webster) was miles behind (not only looking at scores) the rest of the field. I felt the same about Reeths in 1999 as well. I believe Leander ended up in 11th that year & they were worlds beyond Reeths, IMO. If only three bands attended every year not even Mona Shores could complain: Westfield, Lassiter, Kiski Area. <abbr class="o-timestamp time" title="Aug 6, 2021 14:33:30 GMT -4" data-timestamp="1628274810000">Aug 6, 2021 14:33:30 GMT -4</abbr> boahistorybuff said:I believe Reeths-Puffer to be the weakest to make Grand National Finals in at least the past 30 years. A close second is Webster in 1997 (I would boycott forever if I was Pomona). 1999 was strong at the top (PCEP, Marian, Center Grove, Carmel) but if there was a year to gripe about if you are Mona Shores, it's 1999 for sure In terms of score, the lowest two scores at Grand Nationals going back to 1991 was Reeths-Puffer (1999) with an 82.50 and American Fork (1995) with an 82.20. Of course American Fork was a 14th place finals position. I think in those instances and with Webster in 1997, there was a bit of a gap in performance level between those bands and the next highest scoring band(s). Also keep in mind that the competitive field back in the 90s was not often as deep as it has been say the last 20 years.
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Post by supersound on Aug 6, 2021 15:18:54 GMT -6
Leander coming up in 1999 certainly shook things up.
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Post by LeanderMomma on Aug 6, 2021 15:47:49 GMT -6
Leander coming up in 1999 certainly shook things up. They were the Leander Marching Wind Symphony back then. 😁 But what a cool show that was with the big violin prop and the violin soloist. (*nervous to post this thinking that Culper is going to come back and correct me again somehow*) 🤣
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Post by Allohak on Aug 6, 2021 15:51:53 GMT -6
Leander coming up in 1999 certainly shook things up. They were the Leander Marching Wind Symphony back then. 😁 But what a cool show that was with the big violin prop and the violin soloist. (*nervous to post this thinking that Culper is going to come back and correct me again somehow*) 🤣 Group calling themself by any name other than such-and-such H.S. marching band -1
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Post by LeanderMomma on Aug 6, 2021 15:53:26 GMT -6
They were the Leander Marching Wind Symphony back then. 😁 But what a cool show that was with the big violin prop and the violin soloist. (*nervous to post this thinking that Culper is going to come back and correct me again somehow*) 🤣 Group calling themself by any name other than such-and-such H.S. marching band -1 it was most certainly a mouthful! Thankfully they’re just a plain ole high school marching band now
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Post by Samuel Culper on Aug 6, 2021 16:19:10 GMT -6
Leander coming up in 1999 certainly shook things up. They were the Leander Marching Wind Symphony back then. 😁 But what a cool show that was with the big violin prop and the violin soloist. (*nervous to post this thinking that Culper is going to come back and correct me again somehow*) 🤣 You sure it was a violin and not a viola? 😁
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Post by LeanderMomma on Aug 6, 2021 16:34:30 GMT -6
They were the Leander Marching Wind Symphony back then. 😁 But what a cool show that was with the big violin prop and the violin soloist. (*nervous to post this thinking that Culper is going to come back and correct me again somehow*) 🤣 You sure it was a violin and not a viola? 😁 😩🤣
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Post by boahistorybuff on Aug 6, 2021 16:53:46 GMT -6
Leander coming up in 1999 certainly shook things up. They were the Leander Marching Wind Symphony back then. 😁 But what a cool show that was with the big violin prop and the violin soloist. (*nervous to post this thinking that Culper is going to come back and correct me again somehow*) 🤣 The huge broken violin prop was one of the most talked about props that season. Just the week prior to Grand Nationals, they were 8th at the BOA Houston regional (with all finalist bands being from Texas). Looking back, I think it was at that moment at Grand Nationals that those outside of Texas started realizing the growing depth of top level Texas bands.
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Post by Uncle Baby Billy on Aug 8, 2021 0:56:29 GMT -6
I was a guest that year of a then-active BOA Advisory Board Member (two great seats in the upper deck of the RCA Dome - prime real estate) and had access throughout the weekend to on & off field happenings. One thing that I did hear regarding Leander that weekend was a great comment by Greg Bimm of Marian Catholic, whose band at that point had won three consecutive BOA GN Finals Music Captions (including setting the record in 1998). He was highly complimentary of Leander's musicianship & depth within the program as I believe he visited the school as a guest conductor or clinician for their concert bands at some point in the past. They were the Leander Marching Wind Symphony back then. 😁 But what a cool show that was with the big violin prop and the violin soloist. (*nervous to post this thinking that Culper is going to come back and correct me again somehow*) 🤣 The huge broken violin prop was one of the most talked about props that season. Just the week prior to Grand Nationals, they were 8th at the BOA Houston regional (with all finalist bands being from Texas). Looking back, I think it was at that moment at Grand Nationals that those outside of Texas started realizing the growing depth of top level Texas bands.
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Post by LeanderMomma on Aug 8, 2021 8:25:26 GMT -6
I was a guest that year of a then-active BOA Advisory Board Member (two great seats in the upper deck of the RCA Dome - prime real estate) and had access throughout the weekend to on & off field happenings. One thing that I did hear regarding Leander that weekend was a great comment by Greg Bimm of Marian Catholic, whose band at that point had won three consecutive BOA GN Finals Music Captions (including setting the record in 1998). He was highly complimentary of Leander's musicianship & depth within the program as I believe he visited the school as a guest conductor or clinician for their concert bands at some point in the past. The huge broken violin prop was one of the most talked about props that season. Just the week prior to Grand Nationals, they were 8th at the BOA Houston regional (with all finalist bands being from Texas). Looking back, I think it was at that moment at Grand Nationals that those outside of Texas started realizing the growing depth of top level Texas bands. He’s a great man with an incredible and storied history. High praise indeed!
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Post by boahistorybuff on Aug 9, 2021 11:43:42 GMT -6
Bands who had their highest finish at a BOA regional at 2nd place but never at any point in history managed to win a BOA regional title. I do not know the regional recaps prior to 1985 (many have actually been lost to history). I also do not have the recaps sheet for the 1988 regional held in California. Prior to 1985 I only know two bands that meet this description, although there is likely many more.
1980 - Haworth (IN) 1982 - New Philadelphia (OH) 1985 - Lincoln (SD) 1985 - Kosciusko (MS) 1985 - Sprague (OR) 1985 - John Marshall (TX) 1986 - Live Oak (CA) 1987 - Choctawhatchee (FL) 1988 - Lincoln-Way (IL) 1992 - Lakeland (MI) 1992 - The Colony (TX) 1992 - Clinton (MS) 1993 - Poway (CA) 1994 and 1997 - Webster (NY) 1995 - LV Berkner (TX) 1996 and 2002 - Piscataway (NJ) 1996 and 1998 - Valley View (CA) 1997 - Haltom (TX) 1998 and 1999 - Cypress Creek (FL) 1998 - Elizabethtown (KY) 1998 - Lexington (SC) 1999, 2001 and 2002 - Pomona (CO) 2000 - Diamond Bar (CA) 2003 - Milford (OH) 2003 - Norwalk (CT) 2004 - Ooltewah (TN) 2004 - Arlington (NY) 2004 - El Toro (CA) 2005, 2017 and 2019 - Roma (TX) 2006 and 2007 - Lincoln-Way East (IL) 2006 and 2009 - William S Hart (CA) 2007 - Air Academy (CO) 2007 - South Brunswick (NJ) 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2015 - Cedar Park (TX) 2009 - Ben Davis (IN) 2009 and 2011 - Bridgewater-Raritan (NJ) 2010, 2011 and 2012 - Bourbon County (KY) 2010 and 2011 - Hickory (VA) 2012 - Lake Orion (MI) 2013 - Walled Lake Central (MI) 2013 - Grants Pass (OR) 2014 - Panther Creek (NC) 2014 and 2016 - Central Valley (WA) 2014 - Cedar Ridge (TX) 2015 - Allatoona (GA) 2015 - East Coweta (GA) 2015 - Homestead (CA) 2016 - Pioneer (TX) 2016 - Moon Area (PA) 2016 - Blue Springs South (MO) 2017 - Lockport Township (IL) 2017 - Mill Creek (GA) 2017 - Green Hope (NC) 2017 - Bellevue West (NE) 2017 - Lynbrook (CA) 2017 and 2019- Clovis (NM) 2018 - Seven Lakes (TX) 2018 - Coppell (TX) 2018 - Brownsburg (IN) 2018 - John P Stevens (NJ) 2018 - Arcadia (CA) 2019 - Carroll (IN) 2019 - Rosemount (MN) 2019 - Lakota East (OH) 2019 - Foothill (NV) 2019 - Fishers (IN) 2019 - Keller (TX) 2019 - Cleveland (NC)
That was a lot of regionals to sift through. Let me know if I forgot something.
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Post by hostrauser on Aug 9, 2021 12:53:37 GMT -6
Bands who had their highest finish at a BOA regional at 2nd place but never at any point in history managed to win a BOA regional title. I do not know the regional recaps prior to 1985 (many have actually been lost to history). I also do not have the recaps sheet for the 1988 regional held in California. Prior to 1985 I only know two bands that meet this description, although there is likely many more. 1986 - Live Oak (CA) 1993 - Poway (CA) 2000 - Diamond Bar (CA) 2013 - Grants Pass (OR) 2014 and 2016 - Central Valley (WA) 2015 - Homestead (CA) 2017 - Lynbrook (CA) 2018 - Acadiana (CA) That was a lot of regionals to sift through. Let me know if I forgot something. Live Oak (Morgan Hill, CA) is still around and still a good band, but a lot smaller (school wise and band wise). Poway (San Diego County) was an absolute juggernaut band in the late 80s and early 90s, marching over 300 members some years. With the opening of Rancho Bernardo High School in 1990, that number dropped. They're still a good band, just not top of the heap. Poway ISD schools have fantastic arts programs. Mt. Carmel and Rancho Bernardo are the perennial Top 2 in the district. Valley View (Moreno Valley, CA) fell way off after their director left and haven't been a top tier SoCal band since. Diamond Bar (right over the hill from Chino Hills and Ayala) is still a fantastic band, but they don't do field shows any more. They have dominated the SoCal Parade circuit in recent years. Grants Pass (OR) is every bit as good as West Salem and could make Grand National Semifinals most years. Grants Pass and Clovis (NM) are two of the best "from the middle of nowhere" band out West. Washington state has very few good bands, but Central Valley (Spokane, WA) has been the best of the bunch for a long while. They're still quite a bit behind the top bands from CA/OR/UT. Homestead (Cupertino, CA) and Lynbrook (San Jose, CA) are two of the San Francisco Bay Area's best bands. Homestead (CA) was 19th at Grand National Semifinals in 2015 The 2018 entry should be ARCADIA (CA). They have been California's biggest high school band for a long time, and they do not march alternates. In the 2000s they marched 400-425 every year. They're a bit smaller now, but still a very big band (300+). Their legacy in California is immense: they have been one of California's premier music programs for over 50 years. The 2018 Pleasant Hill CA regional was their first BOA event ever, I believe (or at least the first in 25+ years).
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Post by srv1084 on Aug 10, 2021 9:26:10 GMT -6
Diamond Bar (right over the hill from Chino Hills and Ayala) is still a fantastic band, but they don't do field shows any more. They have dominated the SoCal Parade circuit in recent years. Grants Pass (OR) is every bit as good as West Salem and could make Grand National Semifinals most years. Grants Pass and Clovis (NM) are two of the best "from the middle of nowhere" band out West. Interesting tidbit on Diamond Bar. It's surprising to hear such a great program has stopped producing field shows, especially considering their indoor drumline and winterguard are both very, very good. It makes it even more impressive knowing they don't have the fall season to prepare for winter. I'm really glad you brought up Grants Pass. I remember the name a lot from the 90s/early 2000s as they competed in SC-PA percussion world class, so I had also become familiar with their band program. I seem to remember them dropping off quite a bit in the 2000s/early 2010s, but recently came across their 2018 and 2019 marching band shows and I was very impressed. A very modern design and most definitely semi-finalist worthy. They were also larger than I was expecting. Would really be great to see them (and Clovis, since you mentioned them) at Nationals some year.
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Post by hewhowaits on Aug 10, 2021 9:59:02 GMT -6
Interesting tidbit on Diamond Bar. It's surprising to hear such a great program has stopped producing field shows, especially considering their indoor drumline and winterguard are both very, very good. It makes it even more impressive knowing they don't have the fall season to prepare for winter. Or maybe the strength of those programs is helped by not having a fall season to interfere with getting an early start on the winter programs.
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Post by Samuel Culper on Aug 10, 2021 11:35:15 GMT -6
Fascinating to see Diamond Bar's name pop up here. I was a student there my freshman and sophomore years. Way back just after the school opened.
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Post by boahistorybuff on Aug 10, 2021 12:09:05 GMT -6
Interesting to learn more about the bands out west, especially California. Even though we have had BOA regionals out west for several years, many of us east of the Rockies I think feel a bit of a detachment from the west coast bands. Probably not so much with the west coast drum corps as they tour extensively out east. Yes many of us view California as the land of the Blue Devils and Santa Clara Vanguard (yes and the Mandarins). I have tried learning a little more about the west coast bands. I will say that I have watched several on line videos of California schools indoor percussion and winter guard and am always impressed. As I post more west coast bands over time on the vintage video thread I would certainly appreciate some added comments about some of the rich histories of those band programs.
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Post by hostrauser on Aug 10, 2021 13:21:59 GMT -6
I grew up and marched in California, as did my wife, and I've been following the band programs there for about 30 years now. Even though I no longer live in the state I still follow the band circuits out there closely. I have friends who are band teachers in California and I get whatever information I can.
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Post by Marching Observer on Aug 11, 2021 20:37:05 GMT -6
Grants Pass is definitely a band I'd love see make it to a regional or GN sometime as I've got a few of there shows audio. Always a lot of energy out seems like and fun shows.
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Post by supersound on Aug 12, 2021 23:13:29 GMT -6
Forgive me if I’m wrong but isn’t it sort of a risk for a lot of the bands from out west to actively prioritize the BOA circuit instead of more local ones? Just in the terms of costs and travel.
I’m talking about bands like Ayala, Vista Murrieta, Homestead, Winston-Salem etc etc especially when it’s known they spend a lot to go to nationals with much less of a guarantee of making finals. It must be a very costly decision to prioritize BOA especially when there aren’t that many contests nearby.
I hear good things about bands like Grants Pass and James Logan but they seem to not care much for BOA at all and focus on local circuits.
The other “Out Of Nowhere” bands don’t seem to have an alternative to BOA (Clovis + American Fork) it just seems that they’ve for lack of a better term “Outgrown” their circuits
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