East Preview 10/8
During the fall, marching band invitationals are held across the nation. Most are run by a local high school or school district. These events are essential to these bands as fundraisers for the host and a chance for smaller schools that may not be able to participate in major events like Bands of America. General Effect Media would like to highlight these contests, which are essential to these local communities and their programs.
In the state of Pennsylvania, several bands participate in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association (PIMBA). They hold a contest each weekend, and for this upcoming one, it will be at Deer Lakes (PA). 8 bands across 3 Classes will be participating, including last year's PIMBA Class A Finals Champion, Southmoreland (PA). They'll also be facing off against Elizabeth Forward (PA) and Leechburg (PA), which placed 3rd and 4th in Finals. Fox Chapel (PA) headlines class AA, as they placed 4th in last year’s Class 2A PIMBA Championship Finals. Hampton (PA) will be the lone Class 4A representative, but that won't stop them from putting on a great show. The first band steps off at 5:30 PM ET, and you can find more information regarding the schedule and other upcoming PIMBA events here.
Nestled inside Massachusetts lies our next invitational hosted by King Philip Regional (PA). Sponsored by USBands, this show will have bands from 3 states, including a lone representative from Rhode Island in Cranston, who will be the leading band of the entire show at 6:00 PM ET. Dartmouth (MA) will be the lone Open Class V attending, but it will be a treat to catch. We then have a showdown between the host, King Philip Regional, and Blackstone-Millville Regional (MA) to close the show. With eight groups attending, there are sure to be shows that'll catch your attention.
On the outskirts of Newark, West Orange (NJ) will be hosting a New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association (NJMBDA) contest with 13 competing groups. One is Elizabeth (NJ), last year's Class 3A Champion in the inaugural NJMBDA State Finals. Another fellow NJMBDA State Champion will be in attendance, Class A’s Wayne Valley (NJ). They'll be taking on Glen Ridge (NJ), which placed just behind Wayne Valley at State Finals before besting them a week later at the USBands National Band Championship. There are plenty of great shows to catch here, with some compelling match-ups. For more information on this show and others hosted by NJMBDA in just its second season, you can click here to find out more.
Just 16 miles east, USBands will hold The Ludwing Musser Classic inside Metlife Stadium. This is a full-day event, with the first band of Weehawken (NJ) stepping off at 8:30 AM ET and the last band of South Brunswick (NJ) taking the field at 10:49 PM ET. You also have bands like last year's inaugural Class 4A NJMBDA State Champion, John P. Stevens (NJ), competing. Other groups highlighting the day include North Penn joining us from Pennsylvania, Liverpool from New York, and Hillsborough (NJ). We also have two schools from Connecticut coming down from New Milford and Newtown. If you cannot make it to this show, it can be streamed live via FloMarching! For the full schedule and more information for this and other USBands shows, you can find it here.
The east coast has some genuinely compelling contests this year and far too many to list in just one article. Hopefully, you will be able to find a show near you if you're not able to make it out to one of those previously listed. Let us know about a contest you'll attend in the east region this weekend!