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Indiana Bandmasters Association
PO Box 1080
Brownsburg, IN 46112

 

 

Indiana Band Director Mentoring Project
Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA)
Membership in is by school. Memberships are for each school year. Membership renewals are due before entering your first event of the school year. Zone meeting for area directors are held at 8 sites throughout the state in weeks 19 and 45. See http://www.issma.net/entryforms.php to join.
 
ISSMA Sponsors the following Festivals and Contests for bands and band members throughout the year:
Marching Band
Scholastic Class Marching bands are divided into two classes (A and B) determined by both school enrollment in grades 9-12 and number of performing members in the ensemble. Open Class Marching Bands are divided into four classes by school size (A = largest schools, B, C, and D = smallest schools)

Here is a summary of each marching contest and when it occurs.

Festival Marching Band early October (Saturday of week 13). This is a single tier event for groups desiring evaluation and feedback from experienced educators. The Festival event is ideal for young or less-experienced groups or those not wishing to compete.

Scholastic Marching Band early October (Saturday of week 14). ISSMA Scholastic Class emphasizes the educational and developmental journey of smaller bands, acknowledging the unique challenges faced by schools with limited resources.

Open Regional Marching Band Contest mid October (Saturday of week 15). Groups that receive a Gold Rating at the District Contest advance to this level of competition (at two sites per class).

Scholastic State Finals Marching Band early October (Saturday of week 16). A maximum of 32 bands will qualify, 16 bands each in Scholastic B and Scholastic A.

Open Semi-State Marching Band Contest late October (Saturday of week 17). Twenty Bands in each class (10 bands from each Regional) advance to this contest. From here, the top ten scoring bands in each class are selected for the State Finals Contest.

Open State Finals Marching Band Contest late October (Saturday of week 18). Forty Bands (ten from each class) compete for the State Championship.
Director Timeline: District and Festival Entries are due in early September. Check http://www,issma.net for details.
 
Solo and Ensemble Festival
For instrumental soloists and ensembles of up to 20 members (refered to as Wind/Percussion/String (W/P/S). This contest is structured into two tiers:
District Solo and Ensemble Festival at various locations in late January or early February (Saturday of week 30 or 31).
State Solo and Ensemble Festival in Indianapolis in late February (Saturday of week 34).
Director Timeline: District Solo and Ensemble entries are due in early December. Check http://www,issma.net for details.
District Jazz Festival Jazz ensembles, stage bands, instrumental jazz combos and jazz instrumental lab ensembles may enter this event. This event occurs at various locations in early March (Saturday of week 35).
Jazz State Finals A minimum of six (6)maximum of nine (9) Instrumental Jazz Ensembles a will be selected for the State Finals event.
Director Timeline: Jazz entries are due in late January. Check http://www,issma.net for details.
Junior High / Middle School / Elementary Band / Orchestra Organization Festival (J/M/E)
This event occurs in March and/or April (Saturday of weeks 37, 38, 39 or 40). Junior High, Middle School and Elementary School Bands and Orchestras are eligible to perform for taped evaluation and ratings.
Director Timeline: JME entries are due in early February. Check http://www,issma.net for details.
High School Band / Orchestra Organization Festival
This event occurs in March and/or April (Saturday of weeks 40, 41 or 42). High School Bands and Orchestras are eligible to perform for taped evaluation and ratings.
Director Timeline: HS Organization entries are due in early March. Check http://www,issma.net for details.
High School Band / Orchestra Qualification Contest
This event occurs in late April or early May (Saturday of week 43). High School Bands and Orchestras are eligible to perform for taped evaluation and ratings with the top 16 rated bands and the top 8 rated orchestra advancing to the State Concert Organization Contest..
Director Timeline: HS qualification entries are due in early March. Check http://www,issma.net for details.
 
State High School Band / Orchestra Organization Contest
This event occurs in May (Saturday of week 44). The top 16 rated High School Bands and the top 8 rated High School Orchestras compete for taped evaluation and rankings in Indianapolis.