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Mark Your 2009 Marching Band Calendar! |
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2009 Fall Classic Series Schedule |
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All competitions will feature:
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A competition sensitive to the needs of bands at all
levels of development
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Clinic Judging at the end of the performance
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1st, 2nd, & 3rd place trophies for each class and each
caption
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Fair class sizes that will not put smaller bands at a
disadvantage.
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A hospitality tent for each band’s staff
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Positive and constructive judging
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High quality, informational caption-style judging sheets
Look for registration materials
in the mail this August
and soon at this site!
What is the Fall Classic
Series?
In 1991, David Duffy, then director of Powhatan High
School, started the Powhatan Evening
Classic. Having an excellent small band of his
own, Mr. Duffy saw a need and designed a show for
small bands where they would be able to perform in
the evening "under the lights."
Since
1992, director Scott Gordon has fostered the growth
of the small bands concept to include judges who
only evaluate what is on the field, flexible class
sizes to keep a limited range of like-sized bands
together for healthy competition, comprehensive
sheets that fully explain the scoring system, and a
non-scoring clinic judge to have direct interaction
with the band right after their performance.
By
1996, the show had grown so popular that it was
forced to start before sundown. Thus, the
event was renamed the Powhatan Fall Classic.
In
2003, Powhatan expanded the competition to include
all size bands, but has continued to maintain the
healthy small bands environment by retaining the
original class size structure (adding classes for
larger bands), continuing to have a grand champion
for the small bands classes, and ensuring a panel of
judges sensitive to the world of the small band
program.
In
2005, Powhatan exported its format to Middlesex High
School, and thus the Fall Classic Series
had been born. In 2006, Bayside High School
and Mills Godwin High School joined in, lending the
power of their outstanding competitions to the Fall
Classic philosophy.
Is the Fall Classic Series a circuit?
No. The Fall Classic Series competitions are
independent shows led by folks who share the same commitment
to educational quality. Our loose association provides
bands of all sizes a consistency in judging style,
philosophy, and format.
Why am I in a different class at different
Fall Classic events?
The Fall Classic Series tailors each show to ensure bands
are grouped in like sizes per show and not based on an
arbitrary fixed number ahead of time. There may be two
to four classes between 1-75 playing members depending on
the number of participating units and their numbers of
playing members. Optimally, the largest band in a
class is no more than about ten playing members larger than
the smallest band in its class. As a result, the same
size band may end up in a different class week to week.
Units with
more than 75 playing members will encounter more traditional
class divisions.
How
do I register my band for a Fall Classic Series event?
When available (check at the top of the page), you can download the universal Fall
Classic Series application in PDF format. Virginia bands will receive hard copies of the
entry materials in early August, as well. |
