The Mid-America Competing Band Directors Association (MACBDA) was a governing body and summer high school marching band competition circuit based in the Upper Midwest.

The circuit's competitive season traditionally began in June, and previously included field, parade, and concert band competitions hosted throughout the Midwestern United States. Beginning in 2008, almost all competitive events were hosted in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and were limited to field band competitions with occasional parade band presentations.

The most recent circuit championship was at Perkins Stadium, in Whitewater, Wisconsin on July 14, 2019. The association had twenty-five member bands in 2008, but only five remained active . Competitions were not held in 2020–21 due to the Covid pandemic. As of the 2022 season, the association has not scheduled any competitions.

About MACBDA was founded in 1972 by a group of high school band directors who wished to develop a summer competition circuit, similar to competitive junior drum corps. A summer season was preferable, as average autumn temperatures in the Midwest are often considered too cold for marching bands to perform successfully.

The circuit hosted member bands from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota. Prior to 1991, bands competed in three activities; concert band, parade, and field band. , only five field bands remained active members of the circuit.

Governance The circuit was governed by a two executive officers, a President and Vice President. It is unclear how the circuit was organized, whether it be as a public benefit nonprofit corporation or as an unincorporated entity, or in which state the circuit was registered. MACBDA was not an IRS 501(c) tax exempt organization.

Archive and past scores No official archive of MACBDA's proceedings exists and very few caption recaps or scores have been preserved from past competitions. The official website, now offline, listed scores for the current year’s competitions.

Some score summaries can be recovered via the Internet Archive, or via fansites such as .

Membership Competing bands were often attached to high school band programs, and supported by band booster clubs. Other bands were supported by nonprofit organizations and accepted performers from multiple schools or communities. All band members were required to be enrolled in high school, and were eligible to compete the summer following graduation. However, member bands who pre-dated the founding of the circuit would accept members up to age 21.

Members as of 2021 UnitSponsorLocationLighthouse Brigade of RacineRacine Unified School District (formerly)Racine, WisconsinSound of Sun PrairieSun Prairie High School / Sun Prairie Band BoosersSun Prairie, WisconsinGreen Beret Marching BandJanesville, WisconsinRock River ConcordFort Atkinson High SchoolFort Atkinson, WisconsinColumbus Saints Drum and Bugle CorpsSaints Performing Arts, Inc.Columbus, Ohio

Former members UnitSponsorLocationBand of the Black WatchKenosha Unified School DistrictKenosha, WisconsinBishop Grandin Marching GhostsBishop Grandin High SchoolCalgary, AlbertaBlackhawk BrigadePrairie du Chien High School Prairie du Chien, WisconsinCalgary Stampede ShowbandCalgary Marching Showband AssociationCalgary, AlbertaCrimson ExpressMurphysboro High SchoolMurphysboro, IllinoisCYO Emerald Knights BandCatholic Youth Organization (Kenosha)Kenosha, WisconsinDakota Marching IndiansDakota Junior Senior High SchoolDakota, IllinoisDundee ScotsWest Dundee, IllinoisEdmonton AmbassadorsEdmonton, AlbertaEdmonton CrusadersHeraldry GuardCrystal Lake Central High SchoolCrystal Lake South High SchoolCrystal Lake, IllinoisHibbing Blue JacketsHibbing High SchoolHibbing, MinnesotaLena-Winslow BandLena-Winslow High SchoolLena, IllinoisLutheran VanguardWisconsin Evangelical Lutheran SynodAppleton, WisconsinNewman PrideNewman Central Catholic High SchoolNewman, IllinoisOregon Shadow ArmadaOregon High SchoolOregon, WisconsinPride of the LionsRegina, SaskatchewanR TroopRomeoville High SchoolRomeoville, IllinoisRenegade RegimentSandwich Community High SchoolSandwich, IllinoisRocori SpartansRocori High SchoolCold Spring, MinnesotaSaskatoon LionsSaskatoon, SaskatchewanTrojan GuardChesterton High SchoolChesterton, IndianaThe Lake BandLake Band Parents Inc.Milwaukee, WisconsinThe Warren Junior Military BandWarren, OhioWhitnall FalconsWhitnall High SchoolGreenfield, Wisconsin

Competitive season Classification Bands were split between A and Open classes, based on the number of performing members. A third class, AA, was previously available according to results archived on Marching.com.

AAA Class was removed and replaced with Open Class between 2006 and 2007.

Field band adjudication MACBDA utilized a single-tier adjudication handbook for field band competitions. There were no adjustments or recommendations for scoring large and small bands. The annual Youth in Music Band Championships utilized the MACBDA scoring format.

Captions and rubric Scoring was based on two broad categories: Performance, and Effect. The categories were further divided into four reference criteria or captions, with each given a maximum value of 200 points, or up to 20 points when factored. Percussion and Auxiliary, or color guard, captions were also available, each given a maximum value of 100 points, or ten points when factored. The final score was tabulated by adding all captions, less any penalties. + Captions and their maximum values were:CategoryPerformance+Effect=PointsMusic +=Visual +==== One adjudicator was assigned to each caption, and one each to percussion and auxiliary. An additional adjudicator was responsible for timing and penalties. In addition to a tabulator, each competition required eight personnel.

MACBDA did not have captions for drum majors, twirling teams and majorettes, or dance teams. Performance excellence by a drum major was recognized by the Effect or Performance adjudicators where appropriate. Twirlers and dance teams would fall under the responsibility of the Auxiliary adjudicator. Almost all participating bands performed with a color guard team.

Placements and awards Placements and total scores were announced for each class following the last band's performance. Caption awards were also announced for "High Music Execution", "High Visual Execution", "High Music General Effect", "High Visual General Effect", "High Percussion" and "High Auxiliary'. The awards recognized the highest placing band in each caption, regardless of class.

A Drum Major excellence award was also announced, but did not affect the overall score for any of the competing bands.

Parade band adjudication Parade band adjudication fell under three captions: Marching, Effect, and Music. The two captions with the largest impact on a band's final score are Effect and Music, valued at up to 40 points each. Effect emphasizes overall ensemble performance, while music execution favors quality of tone and musical intonation.

Parade competitions could have up to nine judges, three per caption. Scores are averaged within captions, and then summed. +Captions and their maximum values are:CaptionPoints

Past champions It is unclear when MACBDA championships were first hosted or which event was sanctioned as a championship prior to 1979. The following is an incomplete and unverified list of championship results: YearA class—Open ClassRef(s)1972–1978 rowspan="7" rowspan="11" 1979Heraldry Guard1980Dundee Scots1981Dundee Scots1982Heraldry Guard1983Band of the Black Watch1984The Lake Band1985R TroopBand of the Black Watch1986R TroopBand of the Black Watch1987 rowspan="2" Band of the Black Watch1988Band of the Black WatchYearA classAA classAAA ClassRef(s)1989Newman PrideOregon High SchoolBand of the Black Watch1990Dakota Marching IndiansOregon High SchoolSound of Sun Prairie1991 rowspan="3" 1992Dakota Marching IndiansPride of the Lions1993Warren Junior Military Band1994Green BeretRocori SpartansOregon High School1995 colspan="3" 1996Dakota Marching IndiansEdmonton CrusadersPride of the Lions1997Dakota Marching IndiansRocori SpartansPride of the Lions1998Dakota Marching IndiansRocori SpartansSound of Sun Prairie1999Edmonton CrusadersRocori SpartansSound of Sun Prairie2000Green BeretSound of Sun Prairie2001Dakota Marching IndiansCrimson ExpressSound of Sun Prairie2002Dakota Marching IndiansCrimson ExpressSound of Sun Prairie2003Renegade Regiment rowspan="2" Pride of the Lions2004Renegade RegimentSound of Sun Prairie2005Dakota Marching IndiansRenegade RegimentSound of Sun Prairie2006Warren Junior Military BandRenegade RegimentLighthouse Brigade2007Green BeretRenegade RegimentSound of Sun PrairieYearA—Open ClassRef(s)2008Saskatoon Lions rowspan="12" Oregon High School2009CYO Emerald KnightsOregon High School2010Green BeretOregon Shadow Armada2011Calgary Stampede2012Green BeretOregon Shadow Armada2013Green BeretOregon Shadow Armada2014 rowspan="4" Sound of Sun Prairie2015Oregon Shadow Armada2016Sound of Sun Prairie2017Lighthouse Brigade2018Rock River ConcordSound of Sun Prairie2019Green BeretSound of Sun Prairie

See also Bands of America Northwest Association for Performing Arts Western Band Association Youth in Music

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