Music for All Expands Fall Marching Offerings
Music for All has updated its 2023 Fall Marching Calendar, adding Affiliate competitions in O’Fallon, IL, Fishers, IN, and Broken Arrow, OK, among other locations. This is the most significant and most ambitious expansion of their Affiliate program to date. The Power Band Classic, hosted by Lake Hamilton (AR), has previously been the only affiliate contest to receive much attention, and that partnership began in 2018. A similar structure was used for the Hillsboro Regional back in 2013, though that was branded instead as an official Bands of America Regional using BOA judging and sheets.
Some have viewed this expansion as a way to entrench the dominance of Music for All and Bands of America as the most prestigious national Corps-Style circuit during the Fall Marching Season, following the acquisition of USBands by Blue Devils Performing Arts. Ever since, USBands and the Western Band Association have been expanding their reach, especially in areas like Texas, where the demand for competitions has exploded in recent years. Attractive targets for these BOA competitors have been traditionally underserved areas by the national circuits, such as Idaho, Montana, and the Dakotas.
Others have pointed out that this could be a way to revitalize some of the contests whose registrations may have significantly decreased due to a variety of factors, such as the Broken Arrow Invitational, which has seen a decline in participating bands from a height of 30 in 2008 to just 9 in 2022. This association with Music For All provides significant marketing and support for these Affiliate competitions beyond what most have the resources to generate on their own. It is worthy of attention that the majority of competitions that have been added are hosted by programs that have seen success within the BOA framework, as Broken Arrow (OK), Fishers (IN), and O’Fallon Township (IL) have all made Grand National Finals within the past five years, with Lincoln-Way Community (IL) making semifinals in 2022.
The Affiliate contests are as follows:
9/9/23 - Metro East Marching Classic - O’Fallon, IL*
9/30/23 - Fishers Marching Band Invitational - Fishers, IN*
10/7/23 - Broken Arrow Invitational - Broken Arrow, OK*
10/14/23 - Power Band Classic - Pearcy, AR
10/14/23 - Woodson Cavalier Showcase - Fairfax, VA*
10/14/23 - Lincoln-Way Marching Invitational - New Lenox, IL*
10/21/23 - Music For All Buford - Buford, GA*
*denotes a new Affiliate for this year
Matthew Carstensen is currently GEM’s Managing Editor. He has been involved in the Pageantry Arts for over a decade, as a performer at the highest level, an instructor, and a fan. You can find him on Twitter at @SatNightLites. He currently lives in Florida with his two dogs.