Dan Balash

Newton: October 18

Murphysboro: September 13th Marengo: October 12th That leaves us looking for the following dates: Robinson Marion (?) Newton Rich Township SIU

DeKalb: September 28th

I don't see why not. None of that overlaps, and none of it is long travel. They've got a 20 year class championship streak on the line, and they're ISU champions 3 years in a row.

Updated confirmed participants: Class 1A | 1-350 1. Arcola High School 2. Maroa-Forsyth High School 3. Mater Dei High School 4. ROWVA High School 5. Watseka High School Class 2A | 351-800 1. Effingham High School 2. Illinois Valley Central High School 3. Macomb High School 4. Monticello High School 5. Newton Community High School 6. Paris High School 7. Providence Catholic High School 8. University High School Class 3A | 801-1,100 1. East Peoria Community High School 2. Highland High School 3. Mahomet-Seymour High School 4. Morton High School Class 4A | 1,101-1,600 1. Antioch Community High School 2. Centennial High School 3. Danville High School 4. Grayslake Central High School 5. Grayslake North High School 6. Kaneland High School 7. Washington Community High School Class 5A | 1,601-2,500 1. Champaign Central High School 2. Edwardsville High School 3. Elk Grove High School 4. Plainfield North High School 5. Round Lake High School 6. Wheaton North High School 7. Wheaton Warrenville South High School Class 6A | 2,501+ 1. Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 2. Lake Park High School 3. Minooka Community High School 4. Neuqua Valley High School 5. Normal High School 6. Oak Park River Forest High School 7. Oswego East High School 8. Warren Township High School 9. Waubonsie Valley High School 10. Waukegan High School

Happy IMBC registration day! Here’s who has signed up…in 30 minutes. CLASS 1A | 1-350 1. Arcola High School 2. Mater Dei High School 3. ROWVA High School 4. Watseka High School CLASS 2A | 351-800 1. Effingham High School 2. Illinois Valley Central High School 3. Macomb High School 4. Monticello High School 5. Newton Community High School 6. Paris High School 7. Providence Catholic High School 8. University High School CLASS 3A | 801-1,100 1. East Peoria Community High School 2. Highland High School 3. Mahomet-Seymour High School 4. Morton High School CLASS 4A | 1,101-1,600 1. Antioch Community High School 2. Centennial High School 3. Danville High School 4. Grayslake North High School 5. Washington Community High School CLASS 5A | 1,601-2,500 1. Champaign Central High School 2. Edwardsville High School 3. Plainfield East High School 4. Plainfield North High School 5. Round Lake High School 6. Wheaton North High School 7. Wheaton Warrenville South High School CLASS 6A | 2,501+ 1. Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 2. Lake Park High School 3. Minooka Community High School 4. Neuqua Valley High School 5. Normal High School 6. Oak Park River Forest High School 7. Oswego East High School 8. Warren Township High School 9. Waubonsie Valley High School 10. Waukegan High School

As far as I know, not a misprint. U of I and ISU proposed this several years ago, where the smaller schools would go on later and rotate. It gives these kids an opportunity to perform in front of a large crowd. As for awards, one awards ceremony and do everything in one fell swoop. I just wonder if this will continue until 2029 - I can't imagine the 6A schools being amenable to going on at 8:30 in the morning.

Illinois Marching Band Championships (U of I) performance order for 2025: Class 2A Class 3A Class 4A Class 5A Class 6A Class 1A

Monticello: September 13th Danville: October 11th Sandwich: October 19th Current TBD: Murphysboro Robinson Marion (?) DeKalb Newton Marengo Rich Township SIU

Some additions to the 2025 schedule: BOA Louisville added September 27. Greater St. Louis Marching Band Festival at Belleville West October 25. Effingham October 4.

Jordan Profitt has been hired to replace Todd Stalter (who is retiring) at Eureka for 2025-2026. That means his former school, Mater Dei is now accepting applications.

Galesburg possibly starting a competition in 2026.

Changed to October 11.

I just received a binder full of history (scores, programs, etc.) from the early days of ISU courtesy of ISU, courtesy of Bruce Hammitt, former director of Fairbury-Cropsey. I will be going through this (I feel like I should be wearing white gloves) and posting things from it. If you have anything old, send it my way! I'd love to get a good history going of ISU, U of I, BOA events prior to 1985, Summer Nationals, history of local shows, whatever! 🙂

Romeoville: October 4th

Is this just parade or field as well? The field show aspect hasn't been held in a hot minute.

Currently TBD, from the 2024 schedule: Murphysboro Monticello Robinson Romeoville Marion (?) DeKalb Greater St. Louis (Belleville) Newton Danville Effingham Marengo Rich Township SIU Sandwich

Morton: September 27th Prospect: September 27th Pontiac: September 13

NIU/Phantom Regiment Red & Black Fall Classic: September 20 Geneseo: September 20 Normal: September 27

2025 BOA Schedule: Date TBD: Conway, SC - Coastal Carolina University Las Cruces, NM - New Mexico State University McAllen, TX - McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN - Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium Powder Springs, GA - McEachern High School San Marcos, TX - Texas State University Waco, TX - Baylor University September 20th: Round Rock, TX - Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex Toledo, OH - University of Toledo September 27th: Flagstaff, AZ - Northern Arizona University Columbus, OH - Historic Crew Stadium (date tentative) Shenandoah, TX - Woodforest Bank Stadium (date tentative) October 4th: Bedford, TX - Pennington Field Chattanooga, TN - Finley Stadium Des Moines, IA - Waukee Northwest Athletic Complex Iowa Colony, TX - Alvin ISD Freedom Field (date tentative) October 11th: Prosper, TX - Prosper ISD Children's Health Stadium Midland, TX - Astound Broadband Stadium October 17th-18th: St. Louis, MO - The Dome at America's Center October 18th: Johnson City, TN - East Tennessee State University Orlando, FL - Camping World Stadium (date tentative) October 24th-25th: Indianapolis, IN - Lucas Oil Stadium October 25th: Newark, DE - University of Delaware November 1st: Rancho Cucamonga, CA - Etiwanda High School Moscow, ID - University of Idaho November 7th-8th: San Antonio, TX - Alamodome November 8th: St. George, UT - Utah Tech University November 13th-15th: Grand Nationals

Illinois football October open dates: 10/4, 10/18, 10/25.

That's a tough question to answer at this point in time. However, with two super regionals likely back to back, I could see bands foregoing St. Louis, attending here, and going to Indy the following weekend, especially if they're going to Grand Nationals.

Big Ten schedule is being released Wednesday afternoon, so we'll get an idea of where IMBC will fall into the schedule.

Whole bunch of tentative dates have come out: September 6 Stagg September 14 Grayslake North September 20 Plainfield South September 27 Mt. Zion Providence Catholic October 4 Downers Grove South October 11 Metamora Naperville Central (here or October 18th) October 18th Lincoln-Way Naperville Central (here or October 11th) October 25th Oblong Pinckneyville WIU

EIU tentatively scheduled for September 27th.