Indiana State Fair Band Day

Music for All Indiana State Fair Band Day presented by Music Travel Consultants

Indiana State Fair Band Day logo for 2015
Type Marching Band
Location Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, Indiana
Founded 1947
First champions Grant County Combined Band
Current champions Winchester Community High School The Force of Winchester
Website http://www.indianatrackmarchingbands.com/

The Indiana State Fair Band Day is a marching band competition held at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis every August. The contest serves as the Championship for the Central Indiana Track Show Association, an organization that governs marching band contests in Indiana during the Summer. First held in 1947 it is one of, if not, the oldest high school marching band contests in the United States. The 2016 contest, which was the 70th Indiana State Fair Band Day, was held on August 6.[1]

History

The first musical contest at the Indiana State Fair was held in 1926, however there was no marching involved. Whiteland High School was initially declared the champion, but they were disqualified when it was discovered they used students from other Johnson County schools. Ligonier High School was then given the title. The idea of a high school band contest faded, but in 1939 the State Fair held a parade for high school marching bands in front of the grandstands. This parade continued until 1941 when the state fair was cancelled due to World War II.

In 1946 the state fair resumed and the first State Fair Band Day Competition was held on September 2, 1947. Less than 25 bands competed in 3 classes. Under the direction of Fred Reiter the Grant County Combined Band won the Class A championship using students from Van Buren, Jefferson Township, Swayzee, Gas City, Jonesboro, Sweetser, and Fairmount. Rochester won Class B and Francesville won Class C. In 1948 the contest switched to a single class format. Gary Frobel High School won the championship that year.

In the early years of the contest musical repertoires consisted almost entirely of conventional marching songs. There was no time limit, but there wasn't much for the bands to do other than just march past the grandstands. There was a rule that no band could take a backwards step. Odon Madison Township was the first band to do something other than just marching forward, they did a right flanking movement, then a left movement to straighten up. Noblesville was the first band to do backwards marching in their 1952 championship program.

In 1952, to celebrate the centennial of the State Fair, the contest was moved to North Meridian Street in Downtown Indianapolis, near the War Memorial Building. The contest was held there once again in 1953. The Marching Millers from Noblesville and The Bearcat Pride from Muncie Central won the championship those years. The contest returned to the fairgrounds in 1954.

The fifties saw rapid growth in participation from 39 bands competing in 1951 to 83 bands in 1955. In the beginning the contest was a parade contest, with bands marching in parade formation in front of the grandstands. Eventually the format progressed to the bands playing off the starting line, marching down the field then playing in concert formation, and then playing as they cross the finish line, much like the drum and bugle corps of the day.

1962 saw the greatest number of participating bands with 107 bands registered and 92 participating. 1967 was the first year for a prelims-finals format. Initially the top 15 of the 69 bands in prelims were to return that night for finals, however a scoring error left Madison Heights in 20th place. Rather than removing a band, 16 bands competed in finals.

The 70s saw a decline in participation from 59 bands in 1970 to just 32 in 1979. Initially school consolidations affected the number of competing bands, later the All State Marching Band field contest in the fall lowered participation further. In 1970 the Marching Giants from Ben Davis won the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, The Netherlands, but placed second at Band Day to the Anderson Highland Marching Highlanders.

By the 1980s bands did not do a concert standstill portion of their show, but they still had to begin the show at the start line and end at the finish line. To encourage participation of smaller bands a new class structure was introduced in 1982. Bands were divided into two classes, based on band size and school enrollment, Large Bands and Small Bands. In 2007 a class for even smaller bands called Espirit de Corps was added. The class champions are determined in prelims with the top sixteen bands, regardless of class, moving on to finals. The Marching Eagles of Delta High School won the first Small Bands Championship. In 1989 the contest was moved to the opening day of the state fair. That year, under the direction of Doug Fletcher, the Marching Bears of Monroe Central High School became the first band competing as a small band to win the Indiana State Fair Band Day Championship, they repeated in 1990 and 1991and were runners up in 1992.

The 1990s saw one of the greatest decades of dominance in Band Day history. The Marching Flashes from Franklin Central won 6 championships, the first band to do so. They are also the only band to win 4 championships in a row, winning from 1993-1996 and again in 1998 and 1999. Additionally they went undefeated in all of their championship seasons, except for 1993. In 1997 The Force of Winchester Community High School pulled off an upset victory over the Marching Flashes becoming only the second small band to win the championship. In 1995 a rule change allowed the shows to start and finish anywhere on the track, much like a field show.

Franklin Central began competing exclusively in fall field competitions in 2000. Going in to Band Day that year the Marching Patriots of Jay County High School were the favorites to win the championship. They had won every contest that season, winning over the Spirit of South from Muncie Southside High School. Jay County won prelims by a margin of 1.5 over Southside, but the Spirit of South, with only 59 members edged by the Marching Patriots, who had nearly 100 more members, by a mere tenth of a point, the closest finish ever at the time. Jay County won in 2001 and Muncie Southside began a streak of 3 consecutive championships from 2002-2004 setting the record for the highest scoring show at the Indiana State Fair Band Day with a 93.25. In 2004 the Marching Highlanders returned to Band Day for the first time since 1975 and Finished in 2nd place 8.25 points behind first. From 2005-2009 Anderson Highland and Muncie Southside traded the championship with the Marching Highlanders winning in 2005, 2007, and 2009, and the Spirit of South winning in 2006, and 2008. In 2008 Muncie Southside became the second school to win 6 championships, previously winning in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006. Anderson Highland became the third band to win 6 championships in 2009, previously winning in 1968, 1970, 1971, 2005, and 2007.

During the 2009-2010 school year the Anderson Community School board voted to close Highland High School. That summer the Anderson, and Anderson Highland bands merged, keeping the name Marching Highlanders but now representing Anderson High School. Going into Band Day the Muncie Southside Spirit of South was the favorite to win the championship, they won every competition they entered that year, but they finished 3rd in prelims behind Anderson and Richmond. Southside moved to second in finals and the combined Anderson High School Marching Highlanders won the championship. Becoming the fourth school to win 6 championships previously winning in 1957, 1958, 1959, 1985, and 1986. In 2011 Doug Fletcher left Anderson to become the director at Winchester Community High School where he was director from 1994-1998. In finals that year The Force of Winchester, competing as a small band, won their second championship by a mere .05 of a point of the Red Devil Marching Band from Richmond, the closest finish in Band Day history. In 2012 the three classes were renamed Class AAA, Class AA, and Class A. That year The Force moved up to Class AAA and won their 2nd consecutive championship, and their 3rd overall. In 2013 Winchester won once again becoming the fifth band to win 3 championships in a row and having the second highest score ever with a 92.70. In 2014 the contest was moved to the second day of the fair as many schools began going to school earlier. In November 2013 the Muncie Community School board voted to close Muncie Southside High School. Much like with Anderson in 2010 the bands from Muncie Central High School and Muncie Southside High School combined for the 2014 season with a new name, Spirit of Muncie. Going into Band Day The Force was undefeated and appeared that they would win their fourth consecutive championship, however the Spirit of Muncie scored a 91.6 in prelims, the highest score ever in prelims, and beat Winchester by .65 of a point. In finals the Spirit of Muncie scored a 92.35 to bring the championship back to Muncie for the first time since 2008 and the first time for Muncie Central since 1953. The Spirit of Muncie will not defend their title in 2015. In 2015 Winchester Community High School went undefeated for a second time and ended their season with a championship for the first time and the second highest score State Fair Band Day history.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Contest Format

Between 40 and 50 bands participate every year. They are separated into three classes Class AAA, Class AA, and Class A, based on school and band size. The preliminary competition takes place in the morning and the top 16 bands regardless of class compete in the finals competition at night. Each band is allowed 4–6 minutes to perform 2 minutes for entry and one minute to exit.[2][8]

Past Champions

State Fair Band Day Champions

The Current Indiana State Fair Band Day Champion is Winchester Community High School's The Force of Winchester, who has previously won the championship in 1997, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015.
Year School Band Score Director
1947 N/A† (1) Grant County Combined Band N/A Fred Reiter (1)
1948 Gary Frobel (1) Frobel High School Marching Band N/A Kenneth Resur (1)
1949 Odon-Madison Township (1) Odon-Madison Township High School Marching Band N/A Raymond Blair (1)
1950 Alexandria (1) Marching Tigers N/A Carroll Copeland (1)
1951 Odon-Madison Township (2) Odon-Madison Township High School Marching Band N/A Raymond Blair (2)
1952 Noblesville (1) Marching Millers N/A Herbert Laswell (1)
1953 Muncie Central (1) Bearcat Pride N/A Don Parlette (1)
1954 Jasper (1) Marching Wildcats 90 Tom Bishop (1)
1955 Vincennes Lincoln (1) Pride of the Green 100 Hal Meurer (1)
1956 Franklin Community (1) Grizzly Cub Band 271 Carroll Copeland (2)
1957 Anderson (1) Marching Indians 263 George Vaught (1)
1958 Anderson (2) Marching Indians 243 George Vaught (2)
1959 Anderson (3) Marching Indians 242 George Vaught (3)
1960 Ben Davis (1) Marching Giants 236 Ralph Chandler (1)
1961 Ben Davis (2) Marching Giants 241 Ralph Chandler (2)
1962 Vincennes Lincoln (2) Pride of the Green 236 Hal Meurer (2)
1963 Madison Heights (1) Band of Pirates 242 Francis Barker (1)
1964 Ben Davis (3) Marching Gianta 484 Hal Meurer (3)
1965 Crown Point (1) Marching Bulldogs N/A Joseph Guth (1)
1966 Ben Davis (4) Marching Giants N/A Hal Meurer (4)
1967 Ben Davis (5) Marching Giants N/A Hal Meurer (5)
1968 Anderson Highland (1) Marching Highlanders N/A Bruce Smith (1)
1969 Marion (1) Marching Giants N/A Joseph Guth (2)
1970 Anderson Highland (2) Marching Highlanders N/A Hugh Callison (1)
1971 Anderson Highland (3) Marching Highlanders 914 Hugh Callison (2)
1972 Shenandoah (1) Marching Raiders N/A Frank Bieneas (1)
1973 Richmond (1) Red Devil Marching Band N/A John Parshall (1)
1974 New Castle Chrysler (1) Trojan Marching Band N/A Robert Shauver (1)
1975 Wapahani (1) Imperial Raider Band 916 Jim Craig (1)
1976 Greenwood (1) Marching Woodmen 908 Herman Knoll (1)
1977 Norwell (1) Marching Knights 1074 Thomas Osbourne (1)
1978 Wapahani (2) Imperial Raider Band 1071 Jim Craig (2)
1979 New Castle Chrysler (2) Trojan Marching Band 1078 Robert Shauver (2)
1980 Madison Heights (2) Band of Pirates 1062 Thomas Osbourne (2)
1981 Wapahani (3) Imperial Raider Band 1069 Jim Craig (3)
1982 Wapahani (4) Imperial Raider Band 1052 Jim Craig (4)
1983 Wapahani (5) Imperial Raider Band 86.63 Jim Craig (5)
1984 Carmel (1) Marching Greyhounds 89.12 Richard Saucedo (1)
1985 Anderson (4) Marching Indians 83.56 Donald Huffman (1)
1986 Anderson (5) Marching Indians 88.90 Donald Huffman (2)
1987 Southport (1) Marching Cardinsls 87.95 James Furr (1)
1988 Richmond (2) Red Devil Marching Band 90.05 Stephen Varnell (1)
1989 Monroe Central (1) Marching Bears 67.35 Doug Fletcher (1)
1990 Monroe Central (2) Marching Bears 73.35 Doug Fletcher (2)
1991 Monroe Central (3) Marching Bears 70.90 Doug Fletcher (3)
1992 Jay County (1) Marching Patriots 76.45 David Humbert (1)
1993 Franklin Central (1) Marching Flashes 71.45 Raymond Hauser (1)
1994 Franklin Central (2) Marching Flashes 84.70 Raymond Hauser (2)
1995 Franklin Central (3) Marching Flashes 83.25†† Raymond Hauser (3)
1996 Franklin Central (4) Marching Flashes 87.70 Raymond Hauser (4)
1997 Winchester Community (1) The Force of Winchester 86.20 Doug Fletcher (4)
1998 Franklin Central (5) Marching Flashes 89.89 Raymond Hauser (5)
1999 Franklin Central (6) Marching Flashes 89.95 Raymond Hauser (6)
2000 Muncie Southside (1) Spirit of South 81.25 Chuck Reynolds (1)
2001 Jay County (2) Marching Patriots 89.20 David Humbert (2)
2002 Muncie Southside (2) Spirit of South 88.30 Chuck Reynolds (2)
2003 Muncie Southside (3) Spirit of South 89.45 Chuck Reynolds (3)
2004 Muncie Southside (4) Spirit of South 93.25 Chuck Reynolds (4)
2005 Anderson Highland (4) Marching Highlanders 91.70 Doug Fletcher (5)
2006 Muncie Southside (5) Spirit of South 91.50 Chuck Reynolds (5)
2007 Anderson Highland (5) Marching Highlanders 91.40 Doug Fletcher (6)
2008 Muncie Southside (6) Spirit of South 89.45 Joe Poio (1)
2009 Anderson Highland (6) Marching Highlanders 87.55 Doug Fletcher (7)
2010 Anderson (6) Marching Highlanders 90.05 Doug Fletcher (8)
2011 Winchester Community (2) The Force of Winchester 88.30 Doug Fletcher (9)
2012 Winchester Community (3) The Force of Winchester 91.60 Doug Fletcher (10)
2013 Winchester Community (4) The Force of Winchester 92.70 Doug Fletcher (11)
2014 Muncie Central (2) Spirit of Muncie 92.35 Jeremiah Bowman (1)
2015 Winchester Community (5) The Force of Winchester 92.925 Doug Fletcher (12)
2016 Winchester Community (6) The Force of Winchester 92.625 Doug Fletcher (13)

†Grant County Combined Band consisted of students from seven schools- Van Buren, Jefferson Township, Swayzee, Gas City, Jonesboro, Sweetster, and Fairmount.[9]

††Finals rained out in 1995. Preliminary scores used

Championships by School

School Number of Championships Years
Franklin Central 6 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999
Muncie Southside 6 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008
Anderson Highland 6 1968, 1970, 1971, 2005, 2007, 2009
Anderson 6 1957, 1958, 1959, 1985, 1986, 2010
Winchester Community 6 1997, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
Ben Davis 5 1960, 1961, 1964, 1966, 1967
Wapahani 5 1975, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983
Monroe Central 3 1989, 1990, 1991
Odon-Madison Township 2 1949, 1951
Vincennes Lincoln 2 1955, 1962
New Castle Chrysler 2 1974, 1979
Madison Heights 2 1963, 1980
Richmond 2 1973, 1988
Jay County 2 1992, 2001
Muncie Central 2 1953, 2014
Grant County Combined Band 1 1947
Gary Frobel 1 1948
Alexandria 1 1950
Noblesville 1 1952
Jasper 1 1954
Franklin Community 1 1956
Crown Point 1 1965
Marion 1 1969
Shenandoah 1 1972
Greenwood 1 1976
Norwell 1 1977
Carmel 1 1984
Southport 1 1987

Bands that won but did not compete the following year

Year
Won
School Reason
1947 Grant County Combined Band Unknown; returned, 1951
1969 Marion Unknown; returned, 1977
1972 Shenandoah Entered, but did not appear; returned, 1974
1976 Greenwood Began competing exclusively in fall field show competitions
1984 Carmel Began competing exclusively in fall field show competitions
1987 Southport Unknown; returned, 1991
1999 Franklin Central Began competing exclusively in fall field show competitions
2009 Anderson Highland Consolidation of Anderson Highland High School and Anderson High School
2014 Muncie Central Resignation of both band directors; returned, 2016

Class B/Small Bands/Class AA Champions

Centerville High School's Blue Regiment is the current Class AA Champions. Centerville has won the Class AA Championship 14 times.
Year School Band Score Director
1947 Rochester (1) Zebra Band N/A Wendell Frederick (1)
1948

1981
Not Awarded
1982 Delta (1) Golden Eagle Marching Band 978 Bill Cain (1)
1983 Muncie Southside (1) Spirit of South 69.87 Ralph Ewell (1)
1984 Muncie Southside (2) Spirit of South 83.26 Ralph Ewell (2)
1985 Southmont (1) Royal Mountie Band 77.33 James Patton (1)
1986 Southmont (2) Royal Mountie Band 77.33 James Patton (2)
1987 Alexandria-Monroe (1) Marching Tigers 79.75 Dan Rice (1)
1988 Indian Creek (1) Marching Braves 74.35 Mark Mongomtery (1)
1989 Monroe Central (1) Marching Bears 67.35 Doug Fletcher (1)
1990 Monroe Central (2) Marching Bears 73.35 Doug Fletcher (2)
1991 Monroe Central (3) Marching Bears 70.90 Doug Fletcher (3)
1992 Monroe Central (4) Marching Bears 76.25 Vincent Early (1)
1993 Paul Harding (1) Marching Hawks 54.45 Jack Schmidt (1)
1994 Winchester Community (1) The Force of Winchester 74.45 Doug Fletcher (4)
1995 Winchester Community (2) The Force of Winchester 80.25 Doug Fletcher (5)
1996 Indian Creek (2) Marching Braves 73.20 Trent Evans (1)
1997 Winchester Community (3) The Force of Winchester 86.20 Doug Fletcher (6)
1998 Winchester Community (4) The Force of Winchester 89.05 Doug Fletcher (7)
1999 Centerville (1) Blue Regiment 73.95 Mel Carpenter (1)
2000 Centerville (2) Blue Regiment 71.65 Mel Carpenter (2)
2001 Centerville (3) Blue Regiment 75.00 Mel Carpenter (3)
2002 Winchester Community (5) The Force of Winchester 77.30 Daniel Merkamp (1)
2003 Centerville (4) Blue Regiment 79.40 Charles Roesch (1)
2004 Centerville (5) Blue Regiment 81.35 Charles Roesch (2)
2005 Centerville (6) Blue Regiment 85.20 Charles Roesch (3)
2006 Centerville (7) Blue Regiment 82.25 Charles Roesch (4)
2007 Centerville (8) Blue Regiment 84.75 Charles Roesch (5)
2008 Centerville (9) Blue Regiment 81.15 Charles Roesch (6)
2009 Southmont (3) Royal Mountie Band 82.75 Brian Bartlett (1)
2010 Southmont (4) Royal Mountie Band 78.85 Brian Bartlett (2)
2011 Winchester Community (6) The Force of Winchester 88.30 Doug Fletcher (8)
2012 Centerville (10) Blue Regiment 87.35 Charles Roesch (7)
2013 Centerville (11) Blue Regiment 87.075 Charles Roesch (8)
2014 Centerville (12) Blue Regiment 86.75 Charles Roesch (9)
2015 Centerville (13) Blue Regiment 83.275 Charles Roesch (10)
2016 Centerville (14) Blue Regiment 83.500 Charles Roesch (11)

Class B/Small Bands/Class AA Championships by School

School Number of Championships Years
Centerville 14 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Winchester Community 6 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2011
Monroe Central 4 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992
Southmont 4 1985, 1986, 2009, 2010
Muncie Southside 2 1983, 1984
Indian Creek 2 1988, 1996
Rochester 1 1947
Delta 1 1982
Alexandria-Monroe 1 1987
Paul Harding 1 1993

Class C/Espirit de Corps/Class A Champions

Blue River Valley High School's Viking Fury is the current Class A Champion. The Viking Fury has won two consecutive Class A championships.
Year School Band Score Director
1947 Francesville (1) Francesville High School Marching Band N/A Donald Enrlich (1)
1948

2006
Not Awarded
2007 Sheridan (1) Blackhawk Marching Band 55.85 Katie Meloy (1)
2008 South Knox (1) Spartan Pride 38.65 Kim Joyce-Rohrer (1)
2009 Sheridan (2) Blackhawk Marching Band 52.20 Katie Bieda (2)
2010 Cloverdale (1) Emerald Command 50.20 William Cole (1)
2011 Monroe Central (1) Marching Bears 51.95 Stacey Briggs (1)
2012 Sheridan (3) Blackhawk Marching Band 61.00 Nick Waldron (1)
2013 Monroe Central (2) Marching Bears 70.70 Eric Bowman (1)
2014 Monroe Central (3) Marching Bears 77.55 Eric Bowman (2)
2015 Blue River Valley (1) Viking Fury 70.40 Derrick Braswell (1)
2016 Blue River Valley (2) Viking Fury 75.275 Derrick Braswell (2)

Class C/Espirit de Corps/Class A Championships by School

School Number of Championships Years
Sheridan 3 2007, 2009, 2012
Monroe Central 3 2011, 2013, 2014
Blue River Valley 2 2015, 2016
Francesville 1 1947
South Knox 1 2008
Cloverdale 1 2010

[10][11]

Records

Record School Number Year(s)
Most Championships (tie) Franklin Central 6 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999
Most Championships (tie) Muncie Southside 6 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008
Most Championships (tie) Anderson Highland 6 1968, 1970, 1971, 2005, 2007, 2009
Most Championships (tie) Anderson 6 1957, 1958, 1959, 1985, 1986, 2010
Most Championships (tie) Winchester Community 6 1997, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
Most Consecutive Championships Franklin Central 4 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
Most Class B/Small Bands/Class AA Championships Centerville 14 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Most Consecutive Class B/Small Bands/Class AA Championships Centerville 6 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Most Class C/Espirit de Corps/Class A Championships (tie) Sheridan 3 2007, 2009, 2012
Most Class C/Espirit de Corps/Class A Championships (tie) Monroe Central 3 2011, 2013, 2014
Most Consecutive Class C/Espirit de Corps/Class A Championships (tie) Monroe Central 2 2013, 2014
Most Consecutive Class C/Espirit de Corps/Class A Championships (tie) Blue River Valley 2 2015, 2016
Highest Score Muncie Southside 93.25 2004
Highest Scoring Runner Up Winchester Community 92.00 2014
Most Band Day Appearances Anderson 62 (all consecutive) 1955-2016
Most Finals Appearances (tie) Anderson 47 1967-2001, 2004, 2006-2016
Most Finals Appearances (tie) Richmond 47 1967-1983, 1985-1994, 1996, 1998-2016
Largest Margin of Victory Muncie Southside over Anderson Highland 8.25 2004
Smallest Margin of Victory Winchester Community over Richmond 0.05 2011
Most Years Between Championships Muncie Central 61 years 1953-2014

[12]

Prize Money

1st Place $3700
2nd Place $3200
3rd Place $2700
4th Place $2400
5th Place $2100
6th Place $1700
7th Place $1600
8th Place $1500
9th Place $1400
10th Place $1300
11th-16th Place $1100
17th-25th Place $850
26th-30th Place $600
31st-49th Place $500

[13]

References

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