Marchguy
-
Posts
204 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Posts posted by Marchguy
-
-
18 minutes ago, drillwriter said:
This highlights an elephant in the room: how to group bands. ISU and U of I use enrollment numbers similarly to get 6 classes; BOA uses enrollment numbers to get 4 classes; and pretty much every other IL competition uses band size to divide into 3 to 8 classes. Shall we start a separate thread on which way is most "fair"? 🙂
As a director, I can honestly say that consistency matters more to me than the method. Band size, school size, "hybrid" model - if we could just use the same system across the state, I believe a lot of directors would breathe a sigh of relief. Same for the judges sheets.
We don't ask our football or volleyball teams to play by different rules each week. Why should marching bands be classified and evaluated by different standards based on where they are performing?
I would be extremely happy if contest hosts could come to some sort of agreement that provides consitency in classification, judging sheets and scoring. Competition Suite seems to gaining more traction with local competitions - that's good. Ease of access and consitency means more usable data for directors and students.
Maybe if we can get consistent classification and judging FIRST - a true statewide system/championship could be more easily adopted.
-
2
-
-
15 hours ago, drillwriter said:
Is anyone besides me old enough to remember the very coldest ISU, which was either '89 or '90? Is was very windy and I believe wind chill was well below 32.
Bands started performing in the AM, and tuning across all sections was impossible due to the temps. Valves were freezing up, and my understanding is that performers were showing up at the ER of the local hospital with frostbite.
Eventually either the police or fire department showed up and shut the competition down. It's also my understanding that directors were told they would take things indoor if necessary, but it ended up that there was no indoor facility available.
I performed that mornring. I had a trombone solo and my slide got stuck in second position - made for an interesting performance to say the least. If my memory is correct, our band was the last band to perform before they shut everything down. It was windy, cold and sleeting at times. Several of our band members had to be treated at the medical tent after we performed. As an adult now, I can't believe they ever let the competition start outdoors - although the weather may have been getting worse as the day progressed.....
-
Pontiac Schedule - 9/13/25
Class A
3:45 St. Joseph Ogden
4:00 Herscher
4:15 Watseka
Class B
5:00 Streator
5:15 El Paso-Gridley
5:30 Prairie Central
5:45 University
6:00 Coal CityClass C
6:30 Alan B Shepard
6:45 Bloomington
7:00 Joliet WestEXH
7:15 Pontiac -
Washington Afternoon Session Results (from memory - so don't be surprised if some are wrong!)
1A
1. Watseka
2. Farmington Central
3. Dwight
4. Olympia2A
1. Richwoods
2. Monmouth-Roseville
3. Rock Falls
4. Tri-Valley3A
1. Eureka
2. Metamora
3. Pontiac4A
1. East Peoria
2. Dunlap
3. United Township5A
1. Champaign Central
2. Joliet West -
20 hours ago, Marchguy said:
U of I has been rotating classes within the 1A-3A and 4A-6A blocks for several years. I am a little shocked to see this myself....
However, as a director from a 1A school, I am beyond excited to have my students get a chance to perform for a full crowd. It has been great the times that 1A has been last in the morning session - I can't imagine what it will feel like if 1A is the last session of the day!
IMBC Website has been updated to:
2A
3A
1A5A
6A
4A -
On 2/26/2025 at 8:37 AM, Dan Balash said:
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.
U of I has been rotating classes within the 1A-3A and 4A-6A blocks for several years. I am a little shocked to see this myself....
However, as a director from a 1A school, I am beyond excited to have my students get a chance to perform for a full crowd. It has been great the times that 1A has been last in the morning session - I can't imagine what it will feel like if 1A is the last session of the day!
-
U of I will be October 25 per save the date email sent today
-
On 10/27/2024 at 9:41 AM, BRMMSax20 said:
While I was there during the morning block, I do not recall them announcing next year's date.
They did not. I read somehwere the Big Ten football schedule for 2025 isn't coming out until JUNE - so I don't seehow they can set a date before that schedule is released.
-
50 minutes ago, BRMMSax20 said:
IMBC 2024 RESULTS (SMALL SCHOOLS)
CLASS 1A
1. Mater Dei (Music & GE)
2. Watseka (Visual)
3. HoopestonCLASS 2A
1. IVC - 80.250 (Winds, GE, Visual)
2. Effingham - 77.250
3. Paris - 76.000
4. Monticello - 73.700
5. Pontiac - 72.700
6. Newton - 72.650
7. Prairie Central - 71.150CLASS 3A
1. Mahomet-Seymour (Winds, GE, Visual)
2. Geneseo
3. East PeoriaSmall School's Governor's Trophy: Mahomet-Seymour
Class 1A
1. Mater Dei - 74.100 (Music & GE)
2. Watseka - 70.975 (Visual)
3. Hoopeston - 63.575
4. Maroa-Forsyth - 63.400
5. ROWVA - 62.350
6. Tri-Valley - 61.750
7. Blue Ridge - 54.950
8. Okaw Valley - 54.850 -
Danville Results:
Class 1A
55.30 - Dwight (Perc, Winds)
50.90 - St. Joseph-Ogden (Guard)
49.00 - HeritageClass 2A
66.90 - Mt. Carmel (Perc, Winds)
63.90 - Watseka (Guard)
60.65 - Hoopeston
59.75 - El-Paso
55.95 - Casey-Westfield
54.45 - RidgeviewClass 3A
68.05 - Urbana (Winds)
66.05 - Herscher (Guard)
64.25 - Paxton-Buckley-Loda (Perc)Class 4A
80.10 - Mahomet-Seymour (Winds, Perc, Guard)
71.05 - Champaing CentralGC - Mahomet Seymour
-
Danville Results:
Class 1A
55.30 - Dwight (Perc, Winds)
50.90 - St. Joseph-Ogden (Guard)
49.00 - HeritageClass 2A
Shows for the weekend of October 18, 2025
in Contests/Scores
Posted
Our band was one of those early groups!
I recall seeing multiple bands retrieve shoes from the field (mud) after their performances that day. I also remember watching the poor maintenance guy try to run the paint machine through the mud to try and reline the field during the competition. Those were the good ol' days!