Western Band Association Explained

Abbreviation:WBA
Type:501(c)(3) organization
Tax Id:01-0560311
Purpose:To ensure a high quality, educationally sound performing experience in full support of the total band program
Headquarters:Chino, California
Leader Title:Executive Director
Leader Name:Rob van Loben Sels
Leader Title2:Adjudicator Coordinator
Leader Title3:Event Director
Leader Name3:Brian Nunez
Formerly:Western States Marching Band Conference (WSMBC)

The Western Band Association (WBA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes high school music education in California, Arizona and Nevada. Specifically, the WBA organizes marching band competitions for high school students. Its championships event is considered to be the among the largest marching band championships in the United States.[1]

In addition to marching band events, WBA also organizes concert band festivals, symposia, and musical and leadership clinics. In 2008, over 12,000 students in 133 bands performed in WBA events in multiple competitions hosted throughout the state.

History

The Western Band Association was started in 1979 by marching band directors from five Northern and Central California high schools: Mike Rubino (Live Oak High School), Ramiro Barrera (James Logan High School), Dan Smith (Independence High School), Gary Runsten (Modesto High School) and Mel Stratton (Clovis High School).

In 1984, Gary Gilroy (Moreau High School) coined the name "WSMBC" Western States Marching Band Conference, which would later be shortened to WBA by Ramiro Barrera (James Logan High School) in 2002. The first WSMBC Championship was held in conjunction with the 1984 Music Bowl Prelims at James Logan High School. In 1995, John Hannan (Mission Viejo High School) helped expand the organization's efforts to include Southern California bands as well.

In recent years, bands have also competed under the "WBA" banner from nearby states, including Washington, Oregon, and Nevada. The scoring system also grew to become a two-tiered criteria based curriculum designed for bands of various size memberships, assuring that the small band would have the same opportunity as the large band to achieve a high score measuring their unique orchestration and design options.

In 2006, the competition schedule has grown to offer consecutive contests in each of the three Regions (Northern, Central and Southern California) helping to alleviate the costs of travel for the bands.

In 2012, James Logan High School and Ayala High School tied for first place at the WBA Championships, with both scoring 93.40. However, the tie was broken based on Ayala's General Effect score. The tiebreaker settled Ayala as the WBA Champions.

Marching band circuit

The WBA organizes a marching band circuit with competitions held throughout October and November leading up to the circuit championship competition.

Historic classes

Available classes:

1984–19992000–20032004–present
A-601A
A-90
2A
3A3A
4A4A
5A

Class alignment

Below is an incomplete table of class alignments based on number of performers. Classes were re-aligned in 2021, 2023, and 2024.[2]

Class2004–20212021–20232023–20242024–present
1Aup to 60up to 45up to 50up to 60
2A61–8045–6551–7061–80
3A81–10065–8571–9081–110
4A101–14086–11591–125111–141
5A141 or more116 or more126 or more141 to more

Championship format

Class champions are determined at the conclusion of preliminary competition. After prelims, the bands then move on to one of two finals competitions: the A/AA/AAA Championship and the AAAA/AAAAA Championship. The top three bands from each division move on to their respective championship and the remaining field is filled by the next highest scoring bands.

The Finals field is composed of:

Adjudication

Each individual judge is assigned to a specific caption (Individual and Ensemble Music, Individual and Ensemble Visual, General Effect, Auxiliary, and Percussion). General Effect and Music are each worth 30% of the total score, Visual is worth 20%, and Auxiliary and Percussion are each worth 10%.

Awards are released by division. The band with the highest award points for each caption per division is awarded a caption award, while the band with the most overall points in each division is awarded first place-prize. The band with most points in A/AA/AAA combined classes and AAAA/AAAAA combined classes are awarded a "sweepstakes award", with that band removed from the rankings of their class; the next band in placement in that class is moved to "first place" and so on (only for that class). Each competition will have two Sweepstakes winners, one each for A/AA/AAA and AAAA/AAAAA.

Past champions

Below is an incomplete list of past class champions and sweepstakes winners:

Class champions

Year1A2A3A4A5A
2000RiverbankTrabuco HillsBuchananJames Loganrowspan="4"
2001BuenaLive OakBuchananJames Logan
2002GilroyLive OakBuchananJames Logan
2003Newbury ParkValley ChristianEl ToroClovis West
2004ModestoLive OakValley ViewCerritosJames Logan
2005Newbury ParkLive OakFred C. BeyerTrabuco HillsJames Logan
2006Newbury ParkIndependenceFred C. BeyerNogalesJames Logan
2007Live OakIndependenceFred C. BeyerFountain ValleyJames Logan
2008Live OakMadera SouthFred C. BeyerEl DiamanteJames Logan
2009Live OakValley ChristianLos AlamitosTrabuco HillsJames Logan
2010Live OakClovis NorthLos AlamitosEl DiamanteJames Logan
2011PeninsulaClovis NorthBashaGranite BayAyalaJames Logan
2012DamienLive OakTrabuco HillsEl DiamanteAyala
2013DamienCerritosNogalesEl DiamanteUpland
2014Live OakCerritosTrabuco HillsNogalesAyala
2015The King's AcademyCerritosClovis EastGranite BayAyala
2016The King's AcademyFred C. BeyerCerritosMission ViejoJames Logan
2017IndependenceKingsburgTrabuco HillsGranite BayJames Logan
2018colspan="5"
2019The King's AcademyOak GroveMission ViejoClovis NorthChino Hills
2020colspan="5"
2021colspan="5"
2022The King's AcademyEl ToroTrabuco HillsGahrChino Hills
2023The King's AcademyNorthTrabuco HillsUplandChino Hills

Sweepstakes winners

Combined 1A–3A Grand Champions

Previously known as the Class A/AA Championship.

Year3rd Place2nd Place1st Place
2000Valley ChristianClayton ValleyTrabuco Hills
2001BullardAliso NiguelLive Oak
2002Aliso NiguelBullardLive Oak
2003Aliso NiguelBullardValley Christian
2004IndependenceValley ViewValley Christian
2005Valley ChristianAliso NiguelFred C. Beyer
2006ClovisValley ChristianFred C. Beyer
2007Aliso NiguelChino HillsFred C. Beyer
2008Fred C. BeyerClovis EastAliso Niguel
2009Clovis EastFred C. BeyerLos Alamitos
2010Clovis NorthValley ChristianLos Alamitos
2011Valley ChristianRancho CucamongaBasha
2012Los AlamitosRancho CucamongaTrabuco Hills
2013Los AlamitosNogalesClovis North
2014ChaffeyCerritosTrabuco Hills
2015Live OakClovis EastCerritos
2016Los AlamitosCerritosTrabuco Hills
2017CerritosFountain ValleyTrabuco Hills
2018colspan="3"
2019Los AlamitosRowlandMission Viejo
2020colspan="3"
2021colspan="3"
2022The King's AcademyFountain ValleyTrabuco Hills
2023BranhamThe King's AcademyTrabuco Hills
2024Trabuco HillsGranite BayThe King's Academy

Combined 4A–5A Grand Champions

Previously known as the AAA/AAAA Championship.

Year3rd Place2nd Place1st Place
2000Clovis WestMission ViejoJames Logan
2001Clovis WestMission ViejoJames Logan
2002Clovis WestAyalaJames Logan
2003AyalaClovis WestMission Viejo
2004UplandMission ViejoJames Logan
2005Mission ViejoUplandJames Logan
2006AyalaMission ViejoJames Logan
2007Mission ViejoUplandJames Logan
2008AyalaMission ViejoJames Logan
2009Mission ViejoAyalaJames Logan
2010HomesteadMission ViejoJames Logan
2011UplandAyalaJames Logan
2012El DiamanteJames LoganAyala
2013Mission ViejoJames LoganUpland
2014Mission ViejoAyalaJames Logan
2015UplandJames LoganAyala
2016Amador ValleyHomesteadJames Logan
2017HomesteadAyalaJames Logan
2018colspan="3"
2019UplandJames LoganChino Hills
2020colspan="3"
2021colspan="3"
2022James LoganVista MurrietaChino Hills
2023Clovis EastJames LoganChino Hills
2024AyalaChino HillsJames Logan

2021 Regional Championships

The 2021 season concluded with a series of Regional Championships.

James Logan Invitational

Class3rd Place2nd Place1st Place
1AMountain HouseIndependenceKing's Academy
2ASan BenitoOak GroveSanta Teresa
3AMonta VistaBranhamLeigh
4ALynbrookMilpitasGranite Bay
5AAmador ValleyHomesteadJames Logan

Kingsburg Viking Classic

Class3rd Place2nd Place1st Place
1AExeter UnionTempletonSelma
2AHanfordSunnysideMadera South
3AClovis West
4AGolden WestKingsburgClovis
5ALemooreClovis EastClovis North

Trabuco Hills Tournament

Class3rd Place2nd Place1st Place
1ALaguna HillsTorranceDon Antonio Lugo
2APalisades CharterMission ViejoRowland
3AMurrieta ValleyEl ToroMira Costa
4ALa CanadaTrabuco HillsUpland
5AAyalaVista MurrietaChino Hills

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WBA President's report 03/26. Western Band Association. Grantham, Jon. 2009-03-26. 2009-04-09.
  2. Web site: 2021 Classification . 18 October 2021 . Western Band Association . Western Band Association . English.

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