Competitive band organisation in the United States
Tournament of Bands| Abbreviation | TOB; TOB/TIA |
|---|
| Formation | 1972; 52 years ago (1972) |
|---|
| Purpose | Provide a tradition of performance opportunities in the musical and visual arts |
|---|
| Location | |
|---|
| Membership | 439 bands (2022) |
|---|
Tournament Director | Justin Smith |
|---|
NJA Judges Coordinator | Pierce Sanute |
|---|
NJA Director | Timothy Kondziela |
|---|
Parent organization | National Judges Association (NJA)[1] |
|---|
| Website | njatob.org |
|---|
The Tournament of Bands (TOB), also known as Tournament of Bands / Tournament Indoor Association (TOB/TIA), is an American school band association and governing body that sanctions marching band, color guard, and drumline, competitions in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. The "tournament of bands", or "tournament indoor", culminates in regional championships, or Chapter Championships, followed by the Atlantic Coast Championships (ACC), every November and May.
Founded in 1972 by the National Judges Association (NJA),[1] TOB is composed of 439 member bands organized into eleven regions or chapters. It provides a large array of competitive performance opportunities including marching band, indoor guard, majorette, percussion, and dance teams. TOB/TIA sanctions approximately 150 marching band events and more than 100 indoor events every year.
Membership
Membership is open to any elementary, middle, junior, or senior high school, as well as any college or university. An independent unit may join if certain criteria are met such as unit size and age of members. As of 2023[update], membership are organized into eleven regions,[2] or Chapters, across 9 states.
Number of members by state are:
Marching band
The Tournament of Bands sanctions about 140 marching band competitions throughout each fall, corresponding roughly with high school football season. Bands are judged on a 100-point linear scale by judges both on the field and in the press box. Bands are also divided into groups based on their size, and judged only within their group. Sizes are as follows:[3]
| Group
|
Musicians
|
Auxiliary
|
| 1
|
Up to 30
|
30
|
| 2
|
31 – 50
|
50
|
| 3
|
51 – 75
|
75
|
| 4
|
76 or more
|
|
In addition to the group sizes, there are three levels of performance classification that a member may elect to participate:[3]
Open Class (formerly Championship) – Highest level of competition, intended for experienced bands.
A Class (formerly Regional and Invitational) – Intended for young bands prepared to compete at the regional or state-level.
Festival Class – Intended for young and developing bands. No scores are given for this class, only ratings.
Every class and group combination is available at all TOB-sanctioned events and Chapter Championships, or regional championships. Festival Class is not available at the annual Atlantic Coast Championships, only Open and A Class.[3]
Indoor activities
The Tournament Indoor Association (TIA) is one of several circuits for indoor shows in the mid-Atlantic states (other circuits include MAIN, Cavalcade, KIDA, and TRWEA). TIA sanctions competitions for indoor guard, marching percussion, concert percussion, twirlers, and dance team units. The indoor season generally runs from late January to the first weekend in May. Units can be either scholastic or independent. Scholastic units are affiliated with a school. Independent units are usually not affiliated with a school. Classifications are as follows:
- Scholastic Elementary/Independent Cadet – For elementary school students or students under the age of 10.
- Scholastic Middle/Independent Junior – For students in middle school or up to the age of 14.
- Novice A – For color guards only
- Novice – For percussion, dance teams and twirlers
- Intermediate A – for color guards and percussion
- A class
- Open class
- World class
- University – All members must be students at the university and not over the age of 22. Judged on Open class sheets.
- Senior – All members must be 23 or older. Judged on open class sheets.
Units are divided into 11 chapters based on geography. Any unit which has participated in one contest throughout the season is eligible to participate in their respective Chapter Championships, which are usually held the last weekend in April, although in order to be a chapter champion, you must compete in two shows. Any unit which has participated in 4 contests throughout the season and Chapter Championships can compete in the Atlantic Coast Championships, which are held the first weekend in May in Wildwood, NJ. Depending on the number of groups competing in a single class, the tournament can have multiple rounds in which the higher scoring groups advance.
Atlantic Coast Championships
Open Class (1973–present)
Below is a list of past marching band champions organized by group.[4] Championships are counted by group.
| Year
|
Group 1
|
Group 2
|
Group 3
|
—
|
1973
(1st)
|
Catasauqua
(Pennsylvania)
|
Salisbury
(Pennsylvania)
|
Archbishop Wood
(Pennsylvania)
|
|
1974
(2nd)
|
Catasauqua (2)
|
Thomas McKean
(Delaware)
|
Hammonton
(New Jersey)
|
1975
(3rd)
|
Penns Grove
(New Jersey)
|
Salisbury (2)
|
Hammonton (2)
|
1976
(4th)
|
Catasauqua (3)
|
Penns Grove
|
Hammonton (3)
|
1977
(5th)
|
Penns Grove (2)
|
Sun Valley
(Pennsylvania)
(tie)
Oakcrest
(New Jersey)
|
Hammonton (4)
|
1978
(6th)
|
Bald Eagle-Nittany
(Pennsylvania)
|
Upper Merion
(Pennsylvania)
|
Hammonton (5)
|
1979
(7th)
|
Penns Grove (3)
|
Sun Valley (2)
|
Hammonton (6)
|
| Year
|
Group 1
|
Group 2
|
Group 3
|
Group 4
|
1980
(8th)
|
Jonathan Dayton
(New Jersey)
|
David Brearly
(New Jersey)
|
Sun Valley
(Pennsylvania)
|
Governor Livingston
(New Jersey)
|
1981
(9th)
|
Eastern Regional
(New Jersey)
|
David Brearly (2)
|
Sun Valley (2)
|
Williamsport
(Maryland)
|
1982
(10th)
|
David Brearly
(New Jersey)
|
Northern Highlands
(New Jersey)
|
Elizabeth
(New Jersey)
|
Williamsport (2)
|
1983
(11th)
|
Lock Haven
(Pennsylvania)
|
Steinert
(New Jersey)
|
Hammonton (7)
|
Arlington
(New York)
|
1984
(12th)
|
Boonton
(New Jersey)
|
Steinert (2)
|
Lake-Lehman
(Pennsylvania)
|
Williamsport (3)
|
1985
(13th)
|
Bald Eagle-Nittany (2)
|
Steinert (3)
|
Kearny
(New Jersey)
|
Arlington (2)
|
1986
(14th)
|
Bald Eagle-Nittany (3)
|
Middle Township
(New Jersey)
|
Lake-Lehman (2)
|
Mount Vernon
(Virginia)
|
1987
(15th)
|
Steinert
(New Jersey)
|
Lake-Lehman
(Pennsylvania)
|
Lebanon
(Pennsylvania)
|
Williamsport (4)
|
1988
(16th)
|
Governor Livingston
(New Jersey)
|
Lake-Lehman (2)
|
Middle Township
(New Jersey)
|
Carlisle
(Pennsylvania)
|
1989
(17th)
|
Governor Livingston (2)
|
Lake-Lehman (3)
|
Middle Township (2)
|
Williamsport (5)
|
1990
(18th)
|
Governor Livingston (3)
|
Lake-Lehman (4)
|
Middle Township (3)
|
Carlisle (2)
|
1991
(19th)
|
Governor Livingston (4)
|
Lake-Lehman (5)
|
Brandywine
(Delaware)
|
Carlisle (3)
|
1992
(20th)
|
Governor Livingston (5)
|
Lake-Lehman (6)
|
Middle Township (4)
|
Mechanicsburg
(Pennsylvania)
|
1993
(21st)
|
Hanover Area
(Pennsylvania)
|
Governor Livingston
(New Jersey)
|
Red Land
(Pennsylvania)
|
Carlisle (4)
|
1994
(22nd)
|
Haddon Heights
(New Jersey)
|
Norristown
(Pennsylvania)
|
Red Land (2)
|
Mechanicsburg (2)
|
1995
(23rd)
|
Hanover Area (2)
|
Middle Township (2)
|
Clearview
(New Jersey)
|
Mechanicsburg (3)
|
1996
(24th)
|
Hanover Area (3)
|
Middle Township (3)
|
Red Land (3)
|
Mechanicsburg (4)
|
| Year
|
Open Group 1
|
Open Group 2
|
Open Group 3
|
Open Group 4
|
1997
(25th)
|
Governor Livingston (6)
|
Middle Township (4)
|
Nazareth
(Pennsylvania)
|
Pocono Mountain
(Pennsylvania)
|
1998
(26th)
|
Henderson
(Pennsylvania)
|
Middle Township (5)
|
Absegami
(New Jersey)
|
Pocono Mountain (2)
|
1999
(27th)
|
Pittston
(Pennsylvania)
|
Middle Township (6)
|
Mechanicsburg
(Pennsylvania)
|
Pocono Mountain (3)
|
2000
(28th)
|
Henderson (2)
|
Middle Township (7)
|
Mechanicsburg (2)
|
Pocono Mountain (4)
|
2001
(29th)
|
Triton
(New Jersey)
|
Middle Township (8)
|
Lancaster Catholic
(Pennsylvania)
|
Pocono Mountain (5)
|
2002
(30th)
|
Henderson (3)
|
Middle Township (9)
|
Absegami (2)
|
Westminster
(Maryland)
|
2003
(31st)
|
Williamstown
(New Jersey)
|
Middle Township (10)
|
Bensalem
(Pennsylvania)
|
Southern Regional
(New Jersey)
|
2004
(32nd)
|
Henderson (4)
|
Pocono Mountain West
(Pennsylvania)
|
Lancaster Catholic (2)
|
Southern Regional (2)
|
2005
(33rd)
|
Governor Livingston (7)
|
Pocono Mountain West (2)
|
Mechanicsburg (3)
|
Lancaster Catholic
(Pennsylvania)
(tie)
Southern Regional (3)
|
2006
(34th)
|
Governor Livingston (8)
|
Middle Township (11)
|
Mechanicsburg (4)
|
Spring-Ford
(Pennsylvania)
|
2007
(35th)
|
Lake-Lehman
(Pennsylvania)
|
Middle Township (12)
|
Mechanicsburg (5)
|
Spring-Ford (2)
|
2008
(36th)
|
Governor Livingston (9)
|
Brick Memorial
(New Jersey)
|
Mechanicsburg (6)
|
Spring-Ford (3)
|
2009
(37th)
|
Pittston (2)
|
Brick Memorial (2)
|
Mechanicsburg (7)
|
Daniel Boone
(Pennsylvania)
|
2010
(38th)
|
Biglerville
(Pennsylvania)
|
Brick Memorial (3)
|
West Deptford
(New Jersey)
|
Spring-Ford (4)
|
2011
(39th)
|
Governor Livingston (10)
|
Southern Regional
(New Jersey)
|
West Deptford (2)
|
Spring-Ford (5)
|
2012
(40th)
|
Governor Livingston (11)
|
West Deptford
(New Jersey)
|
Mechanicsburg (8)
|
Spring-Ford (6)
|
2013
(41st)
|
Biglerville (2)
|
West Deptford (2)
|
Southern Regional
(New Jersey)
|
Spring-Ford (7)
|
2014
(42nd)
|
Biglerville (3)
|
Deptford Township
(New Jersey)
|
West Deptford (3)
|
Spring-Ford (8)
|
2015
(43rd)
|
Biglerville (4)
|
West Deptford (3)
|
Brick Memorial
(New Jersey)
|
Spring-Ford (9)
|
2016
(44th)
|
Biglerville (5)
|
West Deptford (4)
|
Brick Memorial (2)
|
West Shore
(Pennsylvania)
|
2017
(45th)
|
Biglerville (6)
|
West Deptford (5)
|
Southern Regional (2)
|
Brick Memorial
(New Jersey)
|
2018
(46th)
|
Biglerville (7)
|
Huntingtown
(Maryland)
|
Liberty
(Maryland)
|
Brick Memorial (2)
|
2019
(47th)
|
Oakcrest
(New Jersey)
|
West Deptford (6)
|
Liberty (2)
|
Brick Memorial (3)
|
2020
(—)
|
No champions
|
2021
(48th)
|
Allegany
(Maryland)
|
Southern Regional (2)
|
Brick Memorial (3)
|
Cab Calloway
(Delaware)
|
2022
(49th)
|
Allegany (2)
|
West Deptford (7)
|
Brick Memorial (4)
|
Cab Calloway (2)
|
2023
(50th)
|
Allegany (3)
(tie)
Raritan (1)
|
Eastern Regional
(New Jersey)
|
Liberty (3)
|
No champion
|
2024
(51st)
|
Allegany (4)
(tie)
Raritan (1)
|
Southern Regional
|
Eastern Regional
|
Mifflin County
(Pennsylvania)
|
Invitational and A Class (1997–present)
Below is a list of past Invitational Class and A Class marching band champions organized by group.[4] Championships are counted by group.
| Year
|
Invitational Group 1
|
Invitational Group 2
|
Invitational Group 3
|
Invitational Group 4
|
1997
(25th)
|
Nanticoke
(Pennsylvania)
|
Penns Grove
(New Jersey)
|
Avonworth
|
Shawnee
|
1998
(26th)
|
Penncrest
(Pennsylvania)
|
Abington
|
Bermudian Springs
|
No champion
|
1999
(27th)
|
Chesapeake
(Maryland)
|
Indian Valley
|
Emmaus
|
Linganore
|
2000
(28th)
|
Montrose
|
Williamstown
(New Jersey)
|
East Pennsboro
|
No champions
|
2001
(29th)
|
Gateway
|
Camp Hill
(Pennsylvania)
|
Ephrata
(Pennsylvania)
|
2002
(30th)
|
Highland
|
Camp Hill (2)
|
Severna Park
|
2003
(31st)
|
Timber Creek
|
Parkside
|
Bloomsburg
|
2004
(32nd)
|
Big Spring
|
Camp Hill (3)
|
Aububon
|
2005
(33rd)
|
Palerton
|
Aububon
|
Daniel Boone
(Pennsylvania)
|
2006
(34th)
|
North Carroll
|
Granby
|
Ephrata (2)
|
2007
(35th)
|
Brunswick
|
Hedgesville
|
No champion
|
2008
(36th)
|
Catoctin
|
Big Spring
|
York
|
2009
(37th)
|
Queen Anne's
(Maryland)
|
Parkland
|
No champion
|
| Year
|
A Group 1
|
A Group 2
|
A Group 3
|
A Group 4
|
2010
(38th)
|
Catasauqua
(Pennsylvania)
|
Archbishop Wood
(Pennsylvania)
|
Middletown
(Pennsylvania)
|
No champions
|
2011
(39th)
|
Triton
(New Jersey)
|
Timber Creek
|
Pennsauken
(New Jersey)
|
2012
(40th)
|
Cumberland
(New Jersey)
|
Eastern Regional
(New Jersey)
|
Pennsauken (2)
|
Central Dauphin
(Pennsylvania)
|
2013
(41st)
|
Collingswood
(New Jersey)
|
Oakcrest
(New Jersey)
|
Pennsauken (3)
|
Central Dauphin (2)
|
2014
(42nd)
|
Perryville
(Maryland)
|
Eastern Regional (2)
|
Sparta
|
Penncrest
(Pennsylvania)
|
2015
(43rd)
|
Oakcrest
(New Jersey)
|
Clarke County
|
Metuchen
(New Jersey)
|
Loudoun County
(Virginia)
|
2016
(44th)
|
Weehawken
(New Jersey)
|
West Essex
|
Middletown (2)
|
Toms River North
|
2017
(45th)
|
Pemberton Township
(New Jersey)
|
Winslow Township
(New Jersey)
|
Mountain Ridge
|
Jackson Liberty
|
2018
(46th)
|
Windber
(Pennsylvania)
|
Oakcrest (2)
|
Mifflin County
(Pennsylvania)
|
Kingsway Regional
|
2019
(47th)
|
Southern Garrett
(Maryland)
|
Mainland Regional
(New Jersey)
|
Point Pleasant
(New Jersey)
|
Fort Lee
(New Jersey)
|
2020
(—)
|
No champions
|
2021
(48th)
|
Winslow Township
(New Jersey)
|
Shawnee
|
Mifflin County (2)
|
Fort Lee (2)
|
2022
(49th)
|
Southern Garrett (2)
|
Barnegat
|
Fort Hill
|
Metuchen
(New Jersey)
|
2023
(50th)
|
Bloomfield
|
Odessa
(Delaware)
|
Point Pleasant Borough
|
No champion
|
2024
(51st)
|
Johnstown
|
Deptford
|
Dubois Area
|
Fort Hill
|
See also
References
External links
