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.
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1988 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Parent | Independent (1988-1990) YEA (1990-2019) BD Performing Arts (2020-present) |
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:
- Performance Class: Ensembles who prefer a non-competitive experience at any USBands sanctioned event
- A Class: Ensembles who demonstrate a basic to intermediate skill set (may be building/rebuilding their program) and are adjudicated on a scale representing fundamental to intermediate skills.
- Open Class: Seasoned ensembles that demonstrate expanded skill sets and are adjudicated on a scale supporting intermediate to advanced skills.
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:
- Group I - 1 to 38 members (Texas: 1-45)
- Group II - 39 to 53 members (Texas: 46–80)
- Group III - 54 to 70 members (Texas: 81-115)
- Group IV - 71 to 95 members (Texas: 116–160)
- Group V - 96 to 130 members (Texas: 161–200)
- Group VI -131 and more members (Texas: 201+)[2][3]
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:
- Division I - 26 to 50 members
- Division 2 - 51 to 74 members
- Division 3 - 75 to 99 members
- Division 4 - 100 and more members
- Bands with fewer than 26 members were permitted to be included in Division 1 or as an Ensemble.
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 I - 1 to 39 members (Texas: 1-59)
- Group II - 40 to 59 members (Texas: 60–99)
- Group III - 60 to 79 members (Texas: 100–139)
- Group IV - 80 to 100 members (Texas: 140–169)
- Group V - 101 and more members (Texas: 170+)
Group VI has been eliminated
2022
For 2022, group sizes again changed with Texas events remaining the same as 2021:[6]
- Group I - 1 to 39 members (Texas: 1-59)
- Group II - 40 to 54 members (Texas: 60–99)
- Group III - 55 to 74 members (Texas: 100–139)
- Group IV - 75 to 99 members (Texas: 140–169)
- Group V - 100 and more members (Texas: 170+)
2023
For 2023, group sizes have been changed as follows (Texas events group sizing remains the same as 2021).
- Group I - 1 to 35 members (Texas: 1-59)
- Group II - 36 to 49 members (Texas: 60-99)
- Group III - 50 to 64 members (Texas: 100-139)
- Group IV - 65 to 89 members (Texas: 140-169)
- Group V - 90 and more members (Texas: 170+)