What is MCBA?

The Michigan Competing Band Association is a Michigan Non-profit Corporation dedicated to the promotion of instrumental music education in Michigan schools. It offers educational clinics for band directors, instructors and students featuring nationally known clinicians.  MCBA sanctions marching band contests, which utilize rules and judging criteria developed and adopted by its members.  MCBA holds an annual state championship contest.

Why was MCBA formed?

MCBA was formed in 1974 to offer bands in Michigan a means to compete in Drum & Bugle Corps style contests, which keep abreast of current standards and trends in the competitive marching activity.

How are bands classified?

 In the spring of each year, MCBA member bands are divided into four flights of competition based upon MHSAA High School enrollment numbers that are based upon the State of Michigan second semester count. The flights are equalized in size (number of bands) as much a possible per MCBA rules.

2005 MCBA Flights of Competition

 Flight I    1750 - higher (Mott is a flight I Band)

 Flight II   1137 - 1749

Flight III   717 - 1136

Flight IV  1 - 716

How are contests judged?

MCBA currently utilizes the Bands of America judging system in combination with several MCBA constructed judging sheets and criteria. Seven adjudicators are utilized in the scoring system:

General Effect Music Judge 1 20 pts

General Effect Music Judge 2 20 pts

General Effect Visual Judge  20 pts

Music Performance Individual Judge

Music Performance Ensemble Judge

     Averaged for a total of  20 pts

Visual Performance Individual Judge

Visual Performance Ensemble Judge

     Averaged for a total of…   20 pts

Total possible =   100 pts

Who judges MCBA contests?

MCBA hires judges from throughout the United States and Canada.  It hires people who have had extensive training as judges and who are affiliated with nationally known judging organizations such as:

   Drum Corps International

  Bands of America

  Winter Guard International

In addition to judges from organizations such as those listed above, MCBA also hires other judges that have undergone judge's training and testing, successfully completed field trialing, maintained their judging skills, and kept abreast of current knowledge and trends.

Where and when is the championship contest usually held?

The MCBA State Championship Contest is usually held in the Pontiac Silverdome (depending upon availability).  If it is not held in the Pontiac Silverdome, it will be held in such locations as Ford Field or EMU's Rynearson Football Stadium which offer a large seating capacity, field lighting, and adequate press box facilities. The 2004 MCBA State Championship will be held in the Pontiac Silverdome on Saturday, October 30th."

How do bands advance into the MCBA State Championship Contest?

First, a band must compete in a minimum of two MCBA sanctioned contests.  (MCBA sanctions an average of 20 contests per year).

Second, a band must make application to participate in the championship contest and pay the $200 fee.  (Any band which ultimately does not qualify for the championship contest has its championship fee refunded in full.)

Third, a band must achieve scores at MCBA sanctioned contests that place it among the ten highest scoring bands in its flight competition.  MCBA averages a band's two highest scores posted during the competition season to come up with a Championship Average Score or CAS. MCBA does not use scores from the first two weeks of the competition season unless a band asks that a score or scores from those contests be used.

MCBA offers eight $1000 scholarships

Each year MCBA awards up to eight $1000.00 scholarships to deserving students from Michigan high schools that are members of MCBA . Students are nominated by their band directors.  The selection criteria includes grade point averages, past honors and awards, previous music training and participation in solo and ensemble venues.  The student applicant is asked to write a paragraph stating why he/she should be considered for the scholarship award.  The scholarship selection committee consists of university music faculty members that are not in any way associated with MCBA.