IHSMA State Marching Band Festival

• Sheldon
  • Counties: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Ida, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux, Woodbury.
  • Site Manager: Cliff St. Clair, Band Director
• Fort Dodge (Dodger Stadium)
  • Counties: Boone, Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cerro Gordo, Emmet, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Humboldt, Kossuth, Marshall, Mitchell, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sac, Story, Webster, Winnebago, Worth, Wright.
  • Site Manager: AI Paulson, Band Director
• Epworth, Western Dubuque
  • Counties: Allamakee, Bremer, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek, and schools on or north of Highway 20 in Black Hawk, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque.
  • Site Manager: Lee Plummer, Band Director
• Cedar Rapids, Washington (Kingston Stadium)
  • Counties: Benton, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Tama plus schools south of Highway 20 in Blackhawk, Buchanan, Delaware, and Dubuque.
  • Site Managers: Jared Wacker and Nick Waymire, Band Directors

• Lewis Central, Council Bluffs
  • Counties: Adams, Audubon, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Shelby, Taylor.
  • Site Manager: Dan Tucker, Band Directors
• Waukee
  • Counties: Adair, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Guthrie, Lucas, Madison, Polk, Ringgold, Union, Warren, Wayne.
  • Site Manager: Rishi Kolusu and Drake Van Roekel, Band Directors
• Pella
  • Counties: Appanoose, Davis, Iowa, Jasper, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Poweshiek, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington (plus Newton).
  • Site Manager: Dameon Place and Brody Ross, Band Directors
• Davenport, Central
  • Counties: Cedar, Clinton, Des Moines, Henry, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, Scott.
  • Site Manager: Alex Wilga and David Nicholson, Band Directors

• Complete five years of teaching or instruction in a specialized area of the marching arts
• Complete the “Music Adjudication” course offered through the National Federation of High Schools at nfhslearn.com and send course completion certificate to the IHSMA Office.
• Complete a new W-9 and send it to the IHSMA Office.
• NEW ADJUDICATORS: Request that two (2) currently approved adjudicators for the IHSMA write letters of recommendation for you on your behalf and send them to the IHSMA Office.

The Iowa High School Music Association is committed to providing highly qualified adjudicators whose expertise supports student growth and educational excellence. State Marching Band Festival adjudicators are selected based on demonstrated experience and achievement in music education, marching band instruction, performance, design, and adjudication. Many have served as successful directors, performers, clinicians, designers, and judges at the state, regional, and national levels.

All adjudicators are expected to:

• Possess extensive knowledge of music performance, visual performance, and the marching arts.
• Complete required NFHS adjudicator training and certification.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide objective, educational, and constructive feedback.
• Evaluate performances using established IHSMA standards and criteria.
• Maintain the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and impartiality.

IHSMA adjudicators are selected not only for their credentials, but for their ability to deliver meaningful feedback that recognizes achievement, supports continued growth, and enhances the educational experience of every student and ensemble.

The primary purpose of adjudication at the IHSMA State Marching Band Festival is educational growth. Scores, ratings, and commentary should be viewed as tools that support student learning, program development, and continued artistic achievement.

Commentary is the most valuable component of the evaluation process. Adjudicators provide observations, affirmations, and recommendations designed to help directors and students better understand their performance strengths and identify opportunities for improvement.

Scores represent an adjudicator’s evaluation of specific performance criteria at a particular moment in time. They provide a framework for measuring achievement within established standards but should not be viewed as the sole measure of a band’s success or quality.

Ratings reflect the overall level of performance demonstrated by an ensemble according to IHSMA evaluation standards. Ratings are intended to recognize achievement and provide context for growth rather than serve as a direct comparison between schools.

Directors and students are encouraged to:

• Focus first on adjudicator commentary and educational feedback.
• Use scores and ratings as indicators of performance achievement, not as the ultimate goal.
• Identify recurring themes within the feedback to guide future instruction and rehearsal priorities.
• Celebrate student accomplishment, growth, and the educational journey represented by each performance.

The most meaningful outcome of the evaluation process is not the rating earned, but the insight gained and the opportunity it provides for continued musical and personal development.

The IHSMA State Marching Band Festival is designed to provide students with a positive, educational, and memorable performance experience while celebrating the achievements of marching bands from across Iowa.

On festival day, students can expect to:

• Perform in a professionally organized event alongside outstanding marching bands from throughout the state.
• Present their show before a panel of experienced adjudicators who will evaluate and provide educational feedback.
• Be evaluated in areas such as music performance, visual performance, and overall effect based on established festival criteria.
• Receive recorded and written commentary designed to recognize strengths and provide suggestions for continued growth.
• Perform in a supportive environment that emphasizes excellence, achievement, and student learning.
• Represent their school and community through teamwork, preparation, and performance.

Students should arrive prepared, focused, and ready to perform their best. While ratings and scores are part of the evaluation process, the festival’s greatest value lies in the opportunity to demonstrate months of hard work, receive expert feedback, and share in the excitement and pageantry of the marching arts.

For many students, the State Marching Band Festival represents one of the highlights of the school year—a chance to showcase their dedication, celebrate their accomplishments, and create lasting memories with fellow performers and directors from across Iowa.

The IHSMA State Marching Band Festival is structured to provide an efficient, professional, and educational experience for students, directors, and spectators.

Participating bands arrive at their assigned performance site and follow a scheduled sequence that includes check-in, warm-up, performance, and departure. Event personnel and volunteers are available throughout the day to assist ensembles and ensure the festival remains on schedule.

Each ensemble will:

• Arrive and check in at its assigned performance time.
• Utilize designated warm-up and staging areas prior to performance.
• Enter the performance field according to the published schedule and event procedures.
• Present its field show before a panel of trained adjudicators.
• Exit the performance area and continue through the post-performance flow established by the host site.
• Receive adjudicator recordings, scores, ratings, and other evaluation materials following the event.

Festival schedules are designed to maintain consistent performance intervals while providing each ensemble adequate time for preparation and transition. Bands perform only once and are evaluated according to established IHSMA standards and criteria.

While each site may have slight logistical differences, students and directors can expect a well-organized event focused on safety, efficiency, educational feedback, and the celebration of achievement in the marching arts.

The atmosphere of the State Marching Band Festival combines the excitement and pageantry of public performance with the educational purpose of professional evaluation, creating an experience that recognizes the dedication and accomplishments of every participating ensemble.

IHSMA adjudicators evaluate performances through an educational lens, focusing on how effectively an ensemble demonstrates musical and visual achievement. While each caption emphasizes different aspects of performance, adjudicators are ultimately assessing the quality, effectiveness, and consistency of what students present on the field.

Music Performance
Adjudicators listen for characteristic tone quality, intonation, rhythmic accuracy, technical proficiency, balance and blend, articulation, expression, and musical interpretation. They evaluate how effectively performers communicate the musical intent of the program.

Visual Performance
Adjudicators observe marching technique, posture, timing, spacing, alignment, coordination, and uniformity of movement. Attention is given to how consistently performers execute visual responsibilities throughout the performance.

General Effect
Adjudicators consider the overall impact of the performance, including the integration of music and visual elements, creativity, communication, pacing, emotional engagement, and the effectiveness with which the ensemble connects with the audience.

Color Guard and Percussion (where applicable)
Specialized adjudicators evaluate the achievement, technique, training, artistry, and contribution of these sections to the overall production.

Most importantly, adjudicators evaluate achievement rather than perfection. They consider not only what an ensemble attempts, but how successfully it performs those responsibilities. Feedback is intended to recognize strengths, celebrate accomplishments, and provide educational guidance for continued growth.

Students should understand that adjudicators are not looking for mistakes alone. They are looking for evidence of preparation, musicianship, teamwork, discipline, artistry, and effective communication—qualities that define excellence in the marching arts and reflect the hard work invested throughout the season.

Participation in the IHSMA State Marching Band Festival carries with it the responsibility of representing your school, community, and music program with pride, integrity, and professionalism.

Students are expected to:

• Demonstrate respect for fellow performers, directors, adjudicators, event staff, volunteers, and spectators.
• Follow the directions of event personnel, site hosts, and school staff at all times.
• Display appropriate conduct in warm-up areas, performance venues, spectator areas, and throughout the festival site.
• Support and encourage fellow participants while maintaining a positive and sportsmanlike attitude.
• Care for school equipment, uniforms, instruments, and festival facilities.
• Maintain a safe environment by following all festival procedures and safety guidelines.
• Refrain from disruptive, inappropriate, or unsportsmanlike behavior that detracts from the educational experience of others.

Students should recognize that they are ambassadors for their school and music program. Their conduct both on and off the performance field contributes to the overall reputation of their ensemble and the experience of everyone attending the festival.

The State Marching Band Festival is a celebration of achievement, dedication, and the marching arts. Students are encouraged to approach the day with professionalism, gratitude, and respect while taking pride in the opportunity to perform, learn, and represent their school at one of Iowa’s premier music education events.

The IHSMA State Marching Band Festival is far more than a performance event – it is a celebration of student achievement, dedication, and excellence in music education.

For thousands of Iowa students, the festival represents the culmination of months of rehearsals, personal commitment, teamwork, and artistic growth. It provides an opportunity to perform at a high level, receive expert educational feedback, and showcase the results of countless hours of preparation.

The festival matters because it:

• Celebrates the accomplishments of students, directors, and music programs across Iowa.
• Reinforces the values of discipline, teamwork, leadership, perseverance, and excellence.
• Provides meaningful educational evaluation from experienced adjudicators.
• Encourages continuous growth through constructive feedback and reflection.
• Creates opportunities for students to perform in an atmosphere that values both achievement and learning.
• Showcases the creativity, artistry, and pageantry of the marching arts.
• Unites schools and communities through a shared commitment to music education.

Beyond the ratings and evaluations, the State Marching Band Festival creates lasting memories and meaningful experiences for students. It is often one of the most anticipated and rewarding events of the school year – a chance to represent a school with pride, perform alongside peers from across the state, and experience the excitement of a statewide celebration of music and performance.

At its heart, the festival reflects the mission of the Iowa High School Music Association: to enrich the lives of students through educationally-based musical experiences that inspire excellence, foster growth, and celebrate achievement. Every performance is a testament to the power of music education and the extraordinary work taking place in Iowa schools each day.