INDIANAPOLIS — The sounds of fall that eventually lead thousands to the heart of Indianapolis will be silent this year, the latest victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Indiana State School Music Association says it will cancel their marching band competitions for the 2020 season. That includes Open Class and Scholastic Class regionals and semi-state held at various sites across Indiana and State Marching Band Finals, held in November at Lucas Oil Stadium. The board of ISSMA held an emergency meeting this week, voting that it would not be safe for students, parents and fans to hold those competitions. "After careful consideration of all options, and in accordance with ISSMA’s responsibility to provide a safe and respectful environment at all ISSMA events, the ISSMA Executive Committee has determined those guidelines and measures could not be effectively put in place to ensure a safe environment for students, directors, supporting personnel, adjudicators, workers, and spectators at a live marching band event," said Mick Bridgewater, ISSMA executive director.
The decision means that band programs at almost 200 Indiana high schools will proceed with possibly marching at football games, provided the season takes place, or possibly at invitational competitions held by individual schools independent of ISSMA. Decisions on those invitationals have not been announced. Bridgewater says ISSMA is also exploring the option of virtual assessment of bands.
ISSMA was also forced to scrap its spring band events for indoor marching winds and percussion, concert and jazz bands after COVID-19 began to spread in March.
Also up in the air is the Bands of America Grand National marching championship, also held each November at Lucas Oil Stadium. The competition draws more than 100 bands from across the U.S. each year, along with more than 30,000 attendees. Music for All - the Indianapolis company that oversees Bands of America - has not announced plans for this year's competition. The pandemic already forced the cancellation of Drum Corps International's World Championship, which draws groups from around the world as well as tens of thousands of fans to Lucas Oil Stadium and other downtown venues each summer.
ISSMA's release said, in part:
"Many marching bands have started their summer practice schedules following specific guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and state and local officials. After careful consideration of all options, and in accordance with ISSMA’s responsibility to provide a safe and respectful environment at all ISSMA events, the ISSMA Executive Committee has determined those guidelines and measures could not be effectively put in place to ensure a safe environment for students, directors, supporting personnel, adjudicators, workers, and spectators at a live marching band event. In keeping with the ISSMA mission to provide educationally evaluated music performance opportunities, a process to provide an assessment through virtual means is being explored.
The ISSMA Executive Committee and the ISSMA State Board acknowledge the disappointment that will be felt by students, directors, family members and supporters of Indiana High School Marching Bands. It is our fervent hope that we will be able to return to live Marching Band events in the fall of 2021 and assist our member schools in carrying on the proud heritage of marching bands in the State of Indiana."
