Beyond the Music: School Size, School Poverty, and Performance Time Effects in Bands of America Marching Band Championships Adjudication

Abstract

This study examined the extent to which extramusical variables predicted band representation and adjudication outcomes at Bands of America (BOA) marching band festivals. Archival data from all 48 BOA events in 2021 and 2022 ( N = 2,153 performances; 718 unique bands) were analyzed across Regional, Super Regional, and Grand National competitions. Across all competitions, bands from larger schools, schools with lower levels of National School Lunch Program eligibility, and those that performed later in the day were consistently associated with higher adjudication scores and were therefore more highly represented in advanced rounds of competition. These findings suggest that demographic and scheduling factors shape outcomes beyond rubric-based criteria, raising concerns about equity in high-stakes marching band adjudication. Policy and psychometric reforms are recommended to promote fairness and educational value.