2011 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  18 voters, which consisted of Illinois Marching Online Staff, as well as band directors, staff members, and judges from across the state of Illinois.  Also this year, for the first time ever, the users of the site had input into Bands of the Year as well.  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.  Division 1 (enrollment of 1600+, plus all 2010 Bands of America Grand National Semifinalists) has 12 selections, Division 2 (900-1599) receives 10, Division 3 (450-899) receives 8, and Division 4 (under 450) receives 7.  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 12 bands being voted for, that band would receive 10 points towards their cumulative vote total.

 

A few more fun facts:

  • 12 people overall cast their ballots in the public vote, and their total results counted as 1 ballot in the official Bands of the Year vote.
  • 18 people (not counting the public ballot) voted in the official Bands of the Year vote.
  • Marian Catholic received the most first place votes with 18.
  • Batavia, Illinois Valley Central, and ROWVA each received the most ‘Most Improved’ votes with 8.
  • 98 different bands had ballots cast for them in the staff vote.  In the public vote, 138 different bands were voted for.
And now, the 2011 Illinois Marching Online Bands of the Year!
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2011 Illinois Marching Online Bands of the Year
Division 1

  1. Marian Catholic (224 points, 18 first-place votes)
  2. Prospect (174 points)
  3. O’Fallon (155 points)
  4. Lincoln-Way East (154 points)
  5. Lincoln-Way North (106 points)
  6. Lake Park (97 points)
  7. Victor J. Andrew (84 points)
  8. Morton (83 points)
  9. Downers Grove South (83 points)
  10. Lockport (58 points)
  11. Plainfield North (43 points)
  12. Normal West (32 points)

 

Other Bands receiving First Place Votes
Granite City (1)

Most Improved Band:
Batavia

Division 2

  1. Lincoln-Way West (162 points, 12 first place votes)
  2. Bloomington (137 points, 1 first-place vote)
  3. Limestone Community (113 points, 1 first-place vote)
  4. Lemont (101 points)
  5. Dunlap (94 points, 1 first-place vote)
  6. Rock Island (78 points, 2 first-place votes)
  7. Washington Community (57 points)
  8. Providence Catholic (31 points)
  9. Metamora (27 points)
  10. Highland (18 points)

 

Other Bands receiving First Place Votes:
LaSalle Peru (1)
Yorkville (1)

Most Improved Band
East Peoria

Division 3

  1. Illinois Valley Central (117 points, 8 first-place votes)
  2. Mahomet-Seymour (88 points, 6 first-place votes)
  3. Macomb (82 points, 2 first-place vote)
  4. Eureka (81 points)
  5. Monticello (47 points)
  6. University High School (Normal) (38 points)
  7. Newton (34 points, 1 first-place vote)
  8. Murphysboro (34 points), 1 firstplace vote)

 

Other Bands receiving First Place Votes:
Evergreen Park (1)

Most Improved Band:
Illinois Valley Central

Division 4

  1. ROWVA (79 points, 8 first-place votes)
  2. Tri-Valley (69 points, 2 first-place votes)
  3. Paxton-Buckley-Loda (48 points, 5 first-place votes)
  4. Watseka Community (34points)
  5. Atwood-Hammond (32 points)
  6. Hoopeston Area (17 points)
  7. Sullivan (15 points)

 

Other Bands receiving First Place Votes:
Wesclin (1)
Dwight (1)
Most Improved Band:
ROWVA

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)