December 4, 2014
2014 Bands of the Year
Filed under: — Dan Balash @ 5:00 pm

Every year after Grand Nationals, we conduct voting to decide which bands to name the Illinois Marching Online Bands of the Year. This year’s voting consisted of 8 voters, which consisted of Illinois Marching Online Staff, as well as band directors, staff members, and judges from across the state of Illinois. All of the bands listed below have achieved high quality compared to the other bands in their class, and are worthy of special honor.

A quick explanation of how we conduct voting: Every band that competes once in Illinois is eligible to be voted for. Each voter is asked to vote for their picks in 4 divisions. Voters are allowed to submit half-completed ballots, if they are not comfortable voting in a division. Each division has 10 bands selected, and here is how the divisions break down:

  • Division 1: enrollment of 1600+, plus all 2013 Bands of America Grand National Semifinalists
  • Division 2: 900-1599
  • Division 3: 450-899
  • Division 4: < 450.

Each voter this year was also asked to vote for the “most improved band” in each class, and that was determined on their performances this year as compared to years past.

The points for each band are determined based on votes a band receives. For example: Band A receives a 3rd place vote in Division 1. As there are 10 bands being voted for, that band would receive 8 points towards their cumulative vote total. All ties are broken by the number of first-place votes received, if applicable.

 

And now, the 2014 Illinois Marching Online Bands of the Year!

 

DIVISION 1:

 

  1. Marian Catholic (79 points, 7 first-place votes)
  2. Prospect (70 points, 1 first-place vote)
  3. O’Fallon Township (58 points)
  4. Lake Park (41 points)
  5. Lockport Township (39 points)
  6. Lincoln-Way North (34 points)
  7. Lincoln-Way East (30 points)
  8. Victor J. Andrew (27 points)
  9. Wheeling (15 points)
  10. John Hersey (14 points)

Most Improved Band:
Edwardsville

 

DIVISION 2:
  1. Normal West (75 points, 5 first-place votes)
  2. Morton (75 points, 3 first-place votes)
  3. Limestone Community (57 points)
  4. Lincoln-Way West (45 points)
  5. Bloomington (43 points)
  6. Mahomet-Seymour (39 points)
  7. Washington Community (27 points)
  8. Lemont (22 points)
  9. Lakes Community (17 points)
  10. Marion (6 points)

Most Improved Bands:
Normal West

 

DIVISION 3:

 

  1. Illinois Valley Central (69 points, 4 first-place votes)
  2. Macomb (54 points, 3 first-place votes)
  3. Monticello (54 points)
  4. Murphysboro (40 points, 1 first-place vote)
  5. Eureka (39 points)
  6. Pontiac Township (28 points)
  7. Herscher (24 points)
  8. Newton (22 points)
  9. Mater Dei (20 points)
  10. Geneseo (19 points)

Most Improved Band:
Canton

 DIVISION 4:

 

  1. Watseka Community (45 points, 2 first-place votes)
  2. Tri-Valley (44 points, 1 first-place vote)
  3. Paxton-Buckley-Loda (31 points, 1 first-place vote)
  4. Nashville Community (20 points, 1 first-place vote)
  5. El Paso-Gridley (14 points)
  6. Farmington (14 points)
  7. ROWVA (12 points)
  8. Arcola (11 points)
  9. Casey-Westfield (11 points)
  10. Wesclin (9 points)

Most Improved Band:

Nashville Community

 

Congratulations to these bands and to ALL bands on a great season!

 

2013 Bands of the Year
2012 Bands of the Year
2011 Bands of the Year
2010 Bands of the Year
2009 Bands of the Year
2008 Bands of the Year
2006 Bands of the Year
2005 Bands of the Year
2004 Bands of the Year
2003 Bands of the Year
2002 Bands of the Year

(full article)