USBands explained

USBands
Type:Public
Foundation:1988
Location City:Allentown, Pennsylvania
Location Country:U.S
Parent:Independent (1988-1990)
YEA (1990-2019)
BD Performing Arts (2020-present)

USBands, formally United States Scholastic Band Association[1] and sometimes referred to as USSBA, was formed in the Fall 1988 to provide high school marching bands an opportunity to compete in a circuit featuring top judges from across the continent. US Bands is based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the event is managed by BD Performing Arts.

Members of USBands include over 700 participating high school marching bands. Bands are offered over 150 festival opportunities and invitations annually to compete at major regional championships and at the U.S, Scholastic Band Championship.

In competitions, bands are classified by size and compete with bands within their classification. The classes include range from Group 1, the smallest, to Group 6, the largest. Bands are also classified by skill level. The skill classifications include the A Class for inexperienced bands, new bands, and bands that have recently moved to a larger size group and the Open class for established programs. In total, there are 12 classifications ranging from Group I A to Group VI Open, who perform and compete with bands of similar size and talent.

USBands has also begun supporting competitive indoor events, and provides cooperative fundraising opportunities. In the winter of 2012, USSBA changed their name to USBands.

Classifications

USBands allows their bands to classify themselves into three groups:

Group size

2016 to 2019

Between 2016 and 2019, groups were classified by the following size, which includes playing members, auxiliary, and command personnel drum majors, and bands from Texas had group sizes that varied from the national ranges:

2020

For 2020, USBands created an additional sizing and eliminated the "Open Class" as part of its "v-USBands" virtual adjudication platform.[4] Individual musicians, guard performers, small ensembles, and group Sizes for marching bands were classified as:

2021

For 2021, USBands restored its Open Class for all competitions in Texas and for all national competitions, effective September 25. Group sizes changed to:[5]

Group VI has been eliminated

2022

For 2022, group sizes again changed with Texas events remaining the same as 2021:[6]

2023

For 2023, group sizes have been changed as follows (Texas events group sizing remains the same as 2021).

Past USBands Open Class champions

YearGroup I-OpenGroup II-OpenGroup III-OpenGroup IV-OpenGroup V-OpenGroup VI-Open
2023West Perry HS Marching Band (Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania) 87.550Delran HS (Delran, NJ) 92.300Perkiomen Valley HS (Collegeville, Pennsylvania) 94.950Loudoun County HS (Leesburg, Virginia)96.800Dartmouth High School (Dartmouth, Massachusetts)98.050Class Inactive
2022Lenape Regional HS (Medford, New Jersey) 90.35Allentown HS (Allentown, New Jersey) 93.25Council Rock High School South (Southampton, Pennsylvania) 93.75Edison High School (Edison, New Jersey) 96.5Dartmouth High School (Dartmouth, Massachusetts) 97.7Class Inactive
2021Glen Ridge HS (Glen Ridge, New Jersey) 90.1Passaic HS (Passaic, New Jersey) 94.9Blackstone-Millville HS (Blackstone, Massachusetts) 94.6North Penn HS (Lansdale, Pennsylvania) 95.20Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, Massachusetts) 98.00Class Inactive
2020Shepherd Hill Reg HS (Dudley, Massachusetts) 92.0Edison HS (Edison, New Jersey) 94.67
2019Burlington City HS (Burlington, New Jersey) 92.45Shepherd Hill Reg HS (Dudley, Massachusetts) 95.9Calvert Hall College HS (Baltimore, Maryland) 95.425Blackstone-Millville HS (Blackstone, Massachusetts) 98.325Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, Massachusetts) 98.575Norwalk HS (Norwalk, Connecticut) 96.050
2018Burlington City HS (Burlington, New Jersey) 94.463Shepherd Hill Reg HS (Dudley, Massachusetts) 95.288Calvert Hall College HS (Baltimore, Maryland) 93.750Edison HS (Edison, New Jersey) 97.588Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, Massachusetts) 98.075Norwalk HS (Norwalk, Connecticut) 95.600
2017Burlington City HS (Burlington, New Jersey) 95.425Shepherd Hill Reg HS (Dudley, Massachusetts) 96.400Calvert Hall College HS (Baltimore, Maryland) 96.588Newtown HS (Newtown, Connecticut) 97.363Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, Massachusetts) 98.350Norwalk HS (Norwalk, Connecticut) 97.775
2016Joseph Case HS (Swansea, Massachusetts) 96.475Calvert Hall College HS (Baltimore, Maryland) 96.875King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, Massachusetts) 97.438Blackstone-Millville HS (Blackstone, Massachusetts) 97.425Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, Massachusetts) 97.063Trumbull HS (Trumbull, Connecticut) 97.100
2015East Stroudsburg HS North (Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania) 95.538Shepherd Hill Reg HS (Dudley, Massachusetts) 96.100King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, Massachusetts) 95.788Blackstone-Millville HS (Blackstone, Massachusetts) 96.963Mechanicsburg HS (Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania) 97.363Norwin HS (Irwin, Pennsylvania) 97.200
2014Haddon Heights HS (Haddon Heights, New Jersey) 94.450Lenape Regional HS (Medford, New Jersey) 96.425Edison HS (Edison, New Jersey) 98.300Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, Pennsylvania) 97.975North Penn HS (Lansdale, Pennsylvania) 97.95Norwalk HS (Norwalk, Connecticut) 97.375
2013Haddon Heights HS (Haddon Heights, New Jersey) 90.25Edison HS (Edison, New Jersey) 95.738King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, Massachusetts) 96.138Smithfield-Selma HS (Smithfield, North Carolina) 96.875Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, Massachusetts) 96.6West Genesee HS (Camillus, New York) 95.687
2012Cedar Cliff HS (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania) 92.288Susquehanna Twp HS (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) 96.8Old Bridge HS (Old Bridge Township, New Jersey) 96.375King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, Massachusetts) 97.075Immaculata HS (Somerville, New Jersey) 96.587Wagner HS (San Antonio, Texas) 97.288
2011Monsignor Farrell HS (Staten Island, New York) 93.650Frank W. Cox HS (Virginia Beach, Virginia) 95.7Montville Twp (Montville, New Jersey) 97.588North Penn HS (Lansdale, Pennsylvania) 96.938Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, Massachusetts) 98.225Munford HS (Munford, Tennessee) 98.013
2010Perkiomen Valley HS (Collegeville, Pennsylvania) 96.063Williamstown HS (Williamstown, New Jersey) 97.06Rancocas Valley Reg HS (Mount Holly, New Jersey) 97.875Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, Pennsylvania) 97.400Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, Massachusetts) 98.55George Walton HS (Marietta, Georgia) 97.650
2009Perkiomen Valley HS (Collegeville, Pennsylvania) 97.35Timber Creek Reg HS (Sicklerville, New Jersey) 97.163Rancocas Valley Reg HS (Mount Holly, New Jersey) 97.2King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, Massachusetts) 97.45Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, Massachusetts) 97.813Roxbury HS (Roxbury, New Jersey) 98.188
2008Biglerville HS (Biglerville, Pennsylvania) 93.92River Hill HS (Clarksville, Maryland) 98.25Cedar Cliff HS (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania) 96.9Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, Pennsylvania) 98.575Dartmouth HS (Dartmouth, Massachusetts) 98.275Immaculata HS (Somerville, New Jersey) 96.05
2007Deptford Township HS (Deptford Township, New Jersey) 93.35Century HS (Sykesville, Maryland) 96.3River Hill HS (Clarksville, Maryland) 95.55Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, Pennsylvania) 97.5Upper Darby HS (Upper Darby, Pennsylvania) 96.425
2006Fluvanna County HS (Palmyra, Virginia) 94.675Shawnee HS (Medford, New Jersey) 94.675Waterford HS (Waterford, Connecticut) 95.85Absegami HS (Galloway Township, New Jersey) 96.9Cheshire HS (Cheshire, Connecticut) 95.8North Penn HS (Lansdale, Pennsylvania) 98.475
2005Shawnee HS (Medford, New Jersey)Cheshire HS (Cheshire, Connecticut) 97.15North Penn HS (Lansdale, Pennsylvania) 97.150
2004Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, Pennsylvania)McLean HS (McLean, Virginia) 92.85North Penn HS (Lansdale, Pennsylvania) 97.40
2003Point Pleasant Borough HS (Point Pleasant, New Jersey)Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, Pennsylvania) 98.0
2002Point Pleasant Borough HS (Point Pleasant, New Jersey)Union HS (Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, Pennsylvania) 96.4|Cheshire HS (Cheshire, Connecticut) 97.9|-|2001|Point Pleasant Borough HS (Point Pleasant, New Jersey)|Upper Moreland HS (Willow Grove, Pennsylvania) 95.200|North Penn HS (Lansdale, Pennsylvania) 96.20|-|2000|Point Pleasant Borough HS (Point Pleasant, New Jersey)|Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, Pennsylvania) 96.300|McLean HS (McLean, Virginia) 95.600|North Penn HS (Lansdale, Pennsylvania) 97.500|-|1999|Brick Memorial HS (Brick Township, New Jersey) 93.60|King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, Massachusetts) 96.900|Cheshire HS (Cheshire, Connecticut) 95.000|North Penn HS (Lansdale, Pennsylvania) 96.900|-|1998|Glen Ridge HS (Glen Ridge, New Jersey) |South Hadley HS (South Hadley, Massachusetts) 93.10|King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, Massachusetts) 97.400|North Penn HS (Lansdale, Pennsylvania) 97.200|-|1997|Gov Livingston HS (Waterford HS]] (Nazareth Area HS (Nazareth, Pennsylvania) 95.500|Immaculata HS (Somerville, New Jersey) 95.1|North Penn HS (Lansdale, Pennsylvania) 95.500|N/A|-|1996|Dunellen HS (Dunellen, New Jersey) 86.700|Central Regional HS (Bayville, New Jersey) 91.30|Brick Memorial HS (Brick Township, New Jersey) 93.80|King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, Massachusetts) 93.30|Piscataway HS (Piscataway Township, New Jersey) 95.90|N/A|-|1995|King Philip Regional HS (Wrentham, Massachusetts)|North Penn HS (Lansdale, Pennsylvania) 95.800||N/A|-|1994|Morris Knolls HS (Denville, New Jersey)|Piscataway HS (Piscataway, New Jersey)|-|1993|Governor Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, New Jersey)|Piscataway HS (Piscataway, New Jersey)|-|1992|Governor Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, New Jersey)|Piscataway HS (Piscataway, New Jersey) |-|1991|Governor Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, New Jersey)|Piscataway HS (Piscataway, New Jersey) |-|1990|Governor Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, New Jersey)|Piscataway HS (Piscataway, New Jersey)|-|1989|Governor Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, New Jersey)|-|1988|Governor Livingston HS (Berkeley Heights, New Jersey)|}

Past USBands A Class champions

YearGroup I-AGroup II-AGroup III-AGroup IV-AGroup V-AGroup VI-A
2023Mainland Regional High School (Linwood, New Jersey) 94.40Group IIA: Central Dauphin East High School (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) 92.700

Group IIAA:Bethel High School (Bethel, Connecticut) 94.0

Parkside High School (Salisbury, Maryland) 95.4Tenafly High School (Tenafly, New Jersey) 94.9Fort Lee High School (Fort Lee, New Jersey) 95.4Class Inactive
2022Group IA:East Haven HS Co-op Marching Band (East Haven, Connecticut) 95.80Group IAA:Northern HS (Owings, Maryland) 94.60Group IIANorthern Valley HS at Old Tappan (Old Tappan, New Jersey) 95.50Group IIAA:Lenape Valley Regional HS (Stanhope, New Jersey) 96.70Nutley HS (Nutley, New Jersey) 93.60Pequannock Twp HS (Pompton Plains, New Jersey) 95.50New Providence HS (New Providence, New Jersey) 95.00Class Inactive
2021Delran HS (Delran Township, New Jersey) 96.200Allentown HS (Allentown, New Jersey) 93.900West Milford HS (West Milford, New Jersey) 94.800Loudoun County HS (Leesburg, Virginia) 96.300Port Chester HS (Port Chester, New York) 89.800Class Inactive
2019Calvert HS (Prince Frederick, Maryland) 92.705East Haven HS Co-op (East Haven, Connecticut) 95.940Pequannock Twp HS (Pompton Plains, New Jersey) 93.860Council Rock HS-South (Southampton, Pennsylvania) 94.350Loudoun County HS (Leesburg, Virginia) 98.400New Providence HS (New Providence, New Jersey) 94.340
2018Somerset-Berkley Reg HS (Somerset, Massachusetts) 94.400Montville Township HS (Montville, New Jersey) 94.438Thomas S Wootton HS (Rockville, Maryland) 97.275Loudoun County HS (Leesburg, Virginia) 97.512West Milford HS (West Milford, New Jersey) 93.650New Providence HS (New Providence, New Jersey) 94.263
2017Weehawken HS (Weehawken, New Jersey) 92.113Lenape Valley Reg HS (Stanhope, New Jersey) 93.313Pequannock Twp HS (Pompton Plains, New Jersey) 95.088South County HS (Lorton, Virginia) 97.563Cicero-N Syracuse HS (Cicero, New York) 94.625Jackson Memorial HS (Jackson Township, New Jersey) 92.375
2016Delran HS (Delran Township, New Jersey) 96.763Bethel HS (Bethel, Connecticut) 96.813Audubon HS (Audubon, New Jersey) 96.013Council Rock HS-South (Southampton, Pennsylvania) 96.175West Orange HS (West Orange, New Jersey) 96.638New Providence HS (New Providence, New Jersey) 95.838
2015Somerset Berkley Reg HS (Somerset, Massachusetts) 97.425Kingsway Reg HS (Woolwich Township, New Jersey) 97.100Montville Twp HS (Montville, New Jersey) 96.663Parsippany HS (Parsippany, New Jersey) 96.638Westfield HS (Westfield, New Jersey) 96.738New Providence HS (New Providence, New Jersey) 96.950
2014Joseph Case HS (Swansea, Massachusetts) 96.6Wayne Valley HS (Wayne, New Jersey) 93.663Union HS (Union Township, Union County, New Jersey) 91.213Northern Highlands Reg HS (Allendale, New Jersey) 97.400Cherokee HS (Evesham Township, New Jersey) 92.188Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS (Scotch Plains, New Jersey) 92.875
2013Weehawken HS (Weehawken, New Jersey) 96.163Monroe Township HS (Monroe Twp, New Jersey) 95.613North Warren Reg HS (Blairstown, New Jersey) 96.425Group IV-A:Northern Highlands Reg HS (Allendale, New Jersey) 91.938

Group IV-AA:Absegami HS (Galloway Township, New Jersey) 95.163

Elizabeth HS (Elizabeth, New Jersey) 95.987 Jackson Memorial HS (Jackson Township, New Jersey) 96.300
2012Joseph Case HS (Swansea, Massachusetts) 94.975Chopticon HS (Morganza, Maryland) 97.088Northern Highlands Reg (Allendale, New Jersey) 96.125Passaic HS (Passaic, New Jersey) 96.263Elizabeth HS (Elizabeth, New Jersey) 97.100New Providence HS (New Providence, New Jersey) 96.300
2011Joseph Case HS (Swansea, Massachusetts) 94.163Lenape Regional HS (Medford, New Jersey) 96.413Perkiomen Valley HS (Collegeville, Pennsylvania) 96.588Madison County HS (Danielsville, Georgia 95.35Elizabeth HS (Elizabeth, New Jersey) 97.413New Providence HS (New Providence, New Jersey) 96.438
2010Joseph Case HS (Swansea, Massachusetts)New Providence HS (New Providence, New Jersey) 91.350
2009Joseph Case HS (Swansea, Massachusetts) 93.250Allentown HS (Allentown, New Jersey) 91.625Burlington City HS (Burlington, New Jersey) 93.975Mount Olive HS (Flanders, New Jersey) 94.450West Milford HS (West Milford, New Jersey) 94.125Fort Lee HS (Fort Lee, New Jersey) 86.750
2008Mainland Regional HS (Linwood, NJ) 90.100Parsippany HS (Parsippany, NJ) 90.800Allentown HS (Allentown, NJ) 90.900South County Secondary HS (Lorton, VA) 95.450
2007Lenape Regional HS (Medford, New Jersey)
2005Elizabeth HS[7] (Elizabeth, New Jersey)Passaic High School (Passaic, New Jersey)
2004Lenape Regional HS (Medford, New Jersey)Passaic High School (Passaic, New Jersey)
2003Lenape Valley Reg HS (Stanhope, New Jersey) 90.40Elizabeth HS (Elizabeth, New Jersey)
2002Blue Mountain HS (Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania) 87.40Copiague HS (Copiague, New York) 92.70
2001Northampton Area HS (Northampton, Pennsylvania) 86.70Governor Mifflin Senior HS (Shillington, Pennsylvania) 88.60Blackstone-Millville HS (Blackstone, Massachusetts) 94.60
2000Kearny HS (Kearny, New Jersey)Blackstone-Millville HS (Blackstone, Massachusetts) 89.30Pennsbury HS (Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania) 95.50
1999Lakewood HS (Lakewood Township, New Jersey) 90.95Perkiomen Valley HS (Collegeville, Pennsylvania) 90.70Group IIIAMorris Knolls HS (Denville, New Jersey)Group IIIAKearny HS (Kearny, New Jersey)Somerville High School (Somerville, New Jersey) 90.15
1998Oakcrest HS (Mays Landing, New Jersey) 89.80Southington HS (Southington, Connecticut) 90.30
1997Northern Burlington Reg HS (Columbus, New Jersey)
1996Parsippany HS (Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey)Middletown North HS (Middletown Township, New Jersey) 85.00Port Chester HS (Port Chester, New York) 92.00
1994Parsippany HS (Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey)
1990Parsippany HS (Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Youth Education in the Arts: US Scholastic Band Association . 2006-08-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060822025119/http://www.yea.org/site/PageServer?pagename=USSBA . 2006-08-22 .
  2. Web site: USSBA revises group sizes for the 2011 marching band season . 2011-01-27. YEA.
  3. Web site: |.
  4. Web site: G2020 v-USBands Participant Guide. 2021-05-20. USBands.
  5. Web site: Group Sizes for 2021. 2021-05-20. USBands.
  6. Web site: Fall Participant Guide . 2022-07-08. USBands.
  7. Web site: Elizabeth High School - News & Events. elizabeth.nj.schoolwebpages.com. en. 2017-11-05.