2011 VBODA MARCHING BAND ASSESSMENT

William C. Berg, Chairman

Applications will be mailed July 31, 2011

VBODA will sponsor the 31st Annual MARCHING BAND ASSESSMENT in October 2011. The event will be held in seven locations again this year. Bands will be processed by their applications but not registered until I receive your $175.00 entrance fee. (All sites will be "first come, first served"). After a site is full I will place your group at your second choice location and contact you. Because of number of groups going on the second weekend, please make site choice on application from first to fourth. Please try to visit the site nearest your school. The east and southeast sites are too large!

Dates and Locations

October 22, 2011

West Site (1:00 P.M. starting time-groups scheduled based on ACT tests) 

Pulaski County High School-Dublin

Host-Patrick Butler

Site Coordinator-Bill Berg

Central Site (10:00 A.M. starting time-groups scheduled based on ACT tests)

Battlefield High School-Haymarket (conflict at Liberty HS this year)

Host-Matt Brodt

Site Coordinator-Dwight Leonard

Capital Site (10:00 A.M. starting time-groups schedules based on ACT tests)

Hermitage High School-Richmond

Host-John Sarvay

Site Coordinator-Jessica Isemann

October 29, 2011

Northwest Site (9:00 A.M. starting time) 

Millbrook High School-Winchester

Host-Mike Ward

Site Coordinator-Chris Hoovler

Northeast Site (9:00 A.M. starting time) 

West Springfield High School-Springfield

Host-Larry Einuis

Site Coordinator-Joe Tornello

East Site (9:00 A.M. starting time)

Massaponax High School-Fredericksburg

Host-Corey Koch

Site Coordinator-Bill Berg

Southeast Site (9:00 A.M. starting time)

Warhill High School-Williamsburg

Host-Jonathan Hargis

Site Coordinator-Dwight Leonard

Entry Fee and Application Due Date

The entry fee this year is $175.00 per school (judge's tapes and a video of your groups performance will be furnished).  The Marching Band Assessment Official Application and copy of your MENC card must be postmarked by Friday, September 9, 2011. Any application postmarked after September 9, 2011 must include a $100.00 late fee. Applications postmarked after September 16, 2011 will not be accepted! Please have a line of communication with me, do not put your group in a position to miss this assessment!

Performance Order and Class Sizes

(All Bands MUST perform within their class! For groups that have students taking ACT tests the first weekend, we’ll work around that event. Groups attending the Southeast Assessment we will continue to use the “split” day format due to travel.)

Your group's performance order will be based on

1. Number of winds & percussion - those making sound

2. Distance from the site

3. Your applications postmark (First to be turned in- last to perform).

Classifications are as follows:

Class A     0-50

Class AA    51-70

Class AAA   71-95

Class AAAA  96-130

Class AAAAA 131+ Up                             

Adjudication

All groups will be assessed by 7 judges. The breakdown of judges in the press box is: 3 music performance, 2 visual performance, and 2 general effect. Ratings will be given from I to V. They will then be tallied to achieve a final rating. NO SCORES WILL BE DELETED! A power point made up by the marching assessment committee will be placed on the web site. This will explain the caption judging and how the score sheet is to be used.

Timing

You have 15 minutes to run and complete your program. The time will include: set-up, warm-up (if you use one), performance and exit. The timing will begin when the first person crosses the field boundary and ends when the last person crosses the field boundary. Any warm-up done within the performance area must be done to the backfield bleachers and within the official field boundaries. Once a group performs the first note of a warm-up their 15 minutes will start! Minimum show length is 6 minutes.

Rule Violations

Any violation of the assessment rules will result in the overall rating being lowered. Timing penalties will result in the highest individual judge's rating being lowered one grade level.  

Commonwealth of Virginia Honor Band

The VBODA Marching Band Assessment will continue to be the first step in achieving this honor. Bands receiving a superior rating in both marching and concert festival will receive this designation.

Scheduling

After the deadline for applications passes I will make up the site schedules. The schedule for your site will be posted on the http://www.vboda.org/ website under Marching Band Assessment. I will also e-mail this schedule to you with final instructions.

All bands must march within their class except for ACT testing and Southeast Site travel.

Host schools will have the option of where they march within their class due to their students assisting. Once the schedule is posted no changes will be made!

Mailing

This mailing is based on the directory on the CD and the new schools list from the Virginia High School League. If you find anyone not receiving this mail out, please have him or her contact me.

 Hope everyone has a very successful year! Thanks to the marching committee for all their hard work.

back to State Marching Assessment page