SCBDA Marching Band History

The contest-festival movement in South Carolina began in April of 1927 when events in the Boy’s and Girl’s Glee Club, vocal, violin, clarinet, and cornet solos were offered by Winthrop College, Rock Hill. Four orchestras participated in the 1928 Festival, and 1930 marked the appearance of the first bands. A brief history of the marching bands competition sponsored by the South Carolina Band Directors Association follows.
1937	A marching festival was held for the first time in the spring, with two bands participating: Spartanburg and Sumter received Superior ratings. This event was held in conjunction with the concert and sightreading events.
1942	A defense parade was held in the morning, followed by the marching festival in the afternoon on the Winthrop College field. Orangeburg and Columbia received Superior ratings. During wartime years, 1943-45, the contest was suspended.
1946	A parade of marching bands through the streets of Rock Hill was followed by the festival on the campus of Winthrop College.
1950	Previously, bands had been allowed to enter any of three categories: concert, sightreading, and marching. At this time it was suggested that bands be required to enter at least two of the three events.
1952-56	Bands were required to enter all three events.
1957-58	Bands could enter concert and sightreading events; participation in the marching event was optional.
1959	This year marked a radical departure from previous procedure in which bands received only ratings. A separate contest was held in the fall of the year, at which a champion was declared in each of four classifications. One band was declared the “Grand Champion of the State of South Carolina.” This first contest was held in Sirrine Stadium, Greenville, with Dan Ellis, Furman University, as chairman.
1960-68	The contest was held in Camden with the same format. Bands participated in preliminary competition during the day with the top three groups from each class competing for class champions and Grand Champion at night.
1969-76	Competition was held at Lower Richland from 1969-71; Airport from 1972-73; and Spring Valley from 1974-76.
1977-83	Until this time all classes had been held at the same location on the same date. During these years, the A and AAAA classifications continued at Spring Valley and Classes AA and AAA were moved to Lugoff-Elgin.
1984	This year the event was completely a festival with only ratings: Superior, Excellent, Good, etc. There was no ranking of bands; plaques replaced trophies as awards. The events were held at Spring Valley and Lugoff-Elgin.
1986	Due to continued growth in participation - and to eliminate the long judging days that had evolved - a new format was developed. Four locations were designated, two in the upper part of the state and two in the lower part of the state. Preliminary events were held in each class at each site, and five bands in each class from upper and lower state came together the following week at one of two locations for final judging. The first sites for this new system were: Lower State, Wando and R.B. Stall; Upper State, Boiling Springs and Fort Mill. Spring Valley and Lugoff-Elgin were hosts for the Finals event.
1989	The “Big 16” schools were removed from 4A to form a 5A competition at a separate site.
1999	This year 118 bands competed at one of seven sites.