Dan Balash

Rachel Norton, formerly at Anna-Jonesboro, has been hired at Carbondale.

And Grand Nationals:

Illinois groups attending BOA events:

Keep in mind also, there's a lot of bands that attend ISU who have non existent websites, so you never know if they're attending or not.

Don't worry, they'll adjust the classes as necessary - 6 groups of 5, 6 groups of 6, whatever.

O'Fallon Township will be in attendance at ISU for the first time in 7 years.

Olympia and Anna-Jonesboro are both open.

Congratulations to Philip Crews, band director at Rich Township on his retirement. Benjamin Bird will be taking over as the director, after previously serving as the assistant. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/10/phillip-crews-rich-township-band/

Bands of America has posted a ton of old recaps that haven't seen the light of day in years, including Summer Nationals, some forgotten about Illinois regionals, old Nationals results. All links posted had at least one Illinois group in attendance. 1976 Summer Nationals Prelims: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1976-Summer-Prelims-Recap.pdf 1977: Summer Nationals Prelims: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1977-Summer-Prelims-Recap.pdf Summer Nationals Finals: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1977-Summer-Finals-Recap.pdf 1978: Summer Nationals Prelims: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1978-Summer-Prelims-Recap.pdf Summer Nationals Finals: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1978-Summer-Finals-Recap.pdf 1979: Summer Nationals Prelims: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1979-Summer-Nationals-Prelims-Recap.pdf Summer Nationals Finals: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1979-Summer-Nationals-Finals-Recap.pdf 1980: Summer Nationals Prelims: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1980-Summer-Nationals-Prelims-Recap.pdf 1981: Summer Nationals Prelims: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1981-Summer-Nationals-Prelims-Recap.pdf Summer Nationals Finals: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1981-Summer-Nationals-Finals-Recap.pdf Grand Nationals (Plainfield attended): https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1981-Grand-Nationals-Prelims-Recap.pdf 1982: Indianapolis, IN Prelims: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1982-Indianapolis-Regional-Prelims-Recap.pdf Indianapolis, IN Finals: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1982-Indianapolis-Regional-Finals-Recap.pdf Grand National Prelims: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1982-Grand-Nationals-Prelims-Recap.pdf 1984: Summer National Prelims: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1984-Summer-Nationals-Prelims-Recap.pdf Summer National Finals: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1984-Summer-Nationals-Finals-Recap.pdf Joliet, IL Finals: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1984-Joliet-Regional-Finals-Recap.pdf Grand National Prelims: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1984-Grand-Nationals-Prelims-Recap.pdf Grand National Finals: https://marching.musicforall.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/1984-Grand-Nationals-Finals-Recap.pdf

Wesclin has posted an opening for middle/high school. Luke Davis, who was the director there, has taken the job at Mascoutah.

I believe he took a job with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Waiting on BOA and ISU to post a list of attendees. There are a ton of Illinois groups that have outdated/nonexistent websites, so it makes it difficult to find anything.

Carbondale is open.

According to the school calendar, Marian will be attending the following: 9/6: Stagg 9/13: VJA 9/27: Providence Catholic 10/11: ISU 10/24-10/25: BOA Indianapolis 11/13-11/15: Grand Nationals

Macomb has dropped; moving Providence and beyond in 1A-3A up 15 minutes.

Lockport has always been good about posting their whole schedule. Not to mention, band camp is 40 hours shorter than it was last year (1-9 each day last year vs. 8-12 each day this year.)

Colin Curatolo is the new band director at Evergreen Park, replacing Ken Kazin, who retired after a 40 year career. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/08/ken-kazin-evergreen-park-retires/

O’Fallon Township High School is excited to welcome Stefan Roose as the new Assistant Director of Bands, as well as his wife, Stacy Roose, as a Consultant and Educator with the O’Fallon Township High School Colorguard! Stefan brings a wealth of experience and passion to the role, having previously served as Director of Bands at Lawrence North High School and Co-Director of the Marching Pride of Lawrence Township, as well as a Band Director with Avon Community Schools, all in Indiana. Stefan and Stacy both serve on the WGI Advisory Board and are the co-founders and directors at Elevate Performing Arts. Stefan serves on the Brass Staff for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, and Stacy serves on the Tristate Marching Arts Board and is an active and sought-after designer and educator in the color guard world. Stefan is an accomplished tuba player, currently performing with the Army National Guard Bands, and formerly held the position of principal tubist with the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest. Beyond the podium, Stefan enjoys running, coffee, and brunch with his wife. The Rooses love Disney World and frequently make trips there. Both are thrilled to be joining the O’Fallon community, where they look forward to continuing the school’s legacy of performance excellence while building a strong, healthy, and supportive culture for students and staff alike.

Attending: Alton Belleville East Civic Memorial Collinsville Edwardsville Effingham Fort Zumwalt North Fort Zumwalt West Francis Howell Central Granite City Hillsboro Lafayette Lindbergh Mascoutah Mater Dei Rockwood Summit

Current list of attendees: Canton High School Dunlap High School Hoopeston Area High School LeRoy High School Monmouth-Roseville High School Pleasant Plains High School Rich Township High School Ridgeview High School ROWVA High School Sandwich High School Sherrard High School Streator Township High School Watseka High School 17 spots remain

POSSIBLE out: Lockport Township No competitions listed on their website (https://lockportbands.org/marchingband), which possibly means they're still to be added, but would also corroborate what I was told earlier in the spring that they were no longer planning to compete.

Attached are scores along with a running commentary that I compiled from 1973-1983 of ISU. Does anyone have scores/programs/etc. from 1983-on? ISU History.docx ISU Score History.xlsx

Something tells me that's not an error - looking at their calendar, they have a marching band party scheduled for September 24th (but there's one scheduled for October 15th as well, so who knows?)

2nd time, I think. They were there in 2008, placing 6th in 2A.