- Northwest Association for Performing Arts
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The Northwest Association for Performing Arts, or NWAPA, is an association of Pacific Northwest high school marching bands, color guards and percussion ensembles founded in 1997. Organized as Northwest Marching Band Circuit (NWMBC), NWAPA continues to develop additional competitive performance opportunities for scholastic, collegiate and independent ensembles including a winter guard and indoor percussion event series.
Contents
Mission Statement
The organization has established the longest running regional championships for marching band, color guard and percussion ensembles as well as develop a community of independent music and visual adjudicators.
NWAPA was established for the purpose of the "providing a circuit of standardized shows for scholastic marching bands, winter guard and winter percussion units that will provide educational input via quality adjudication.[1]" And to "facilitate standard assessment of performances though positive and constructive judging for the purpose of improvement of students, directors, and staff." Though membership has decreased since 2006, NWAPA continues to "encourage growth of membership in the conference and never exclude any high school unit from participation" and "to build and maintain an organization of band directors that believe that it is first and foremost their duty to educate young people to strive for excellence."
Governance
NWAPA is governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of the six elected officers elected for two-year terms, President, Vice President - Fall, Vice President - Spring, Secretary, Treasurer and Past President. Officers are elected to two-year terms each February. The President and Secretary are elected in even-number years, while the Vice Presidents and Treasurer elected in odd-numbered years. All band directors and show sponsors that are in good standing are eligible to hold elected office.
Four general membership meetings are held per year with each member in good standing having one vote. Show sponsors are only eligible to vote if they are elected officers. Voting may be cast by voice, written ballot, or by email at the discretion of the President.
Members & Participants
The NWAPA draws participants from various states across the Pacific Northwest, however the majority of active members and participants are from the Portland, Salem, Spokane and Seattle-Tacoma metro areas[2]. The following units/high schools are members as of August 2011 including each member's marching band, color guard and percussion ensemble competitive classifications.
Unit Name State Band Percussion Color Guard Aloha High School OR A - - Astoria High School OR A - - Beaverton High School OR A - - Canby High School OR A - - Cascade High School WA AAA - - Central Valley High School WA Open - - Century High School OR AAA - SO Cheney High School WA AA - - Evergreen High School WA Open - - Glencoe High School OR A - SA Grants Pass High School OR Open - - Hillsboro High School OR A - - Kamiak High School -- Kamiak Show Band WA Open PSO - Kelso High School WA A - - Liberty High School OR A - - Nampa High School ID AAA - - North Salem High School OR AA - - Oregon City High School OR AA - - Phoenix High School OR AA - - Roseburg High School OR AA - - Sheldon High School OR AA - - Sherwood High School OR AA - - Skyview High School WA Open - SW Southridge High School OR Open - SO Sprague High School OR A - - St. Helens High School OR A - - Sunset High School OR AA PSA - Thurston High School OR A - - Tigard High School OR A - - West Salem High School OR Open - - Westview High School OR AAA - - Oregon Crusaders Indoor OR - - PIW Rhapsody Winterguard WA - IW - Summit Winterguard WA - IA - Previous Participants
The following schools are previous members of NWAPA (NWMBC)[3] or have participated in officiated events since 2006[citation needed]
Unit Name State Year Brea Olinda High School CA 2011 Black Hills High School WA 2008 Centennial High School ID 2011 Clarkston High School WA 2007 Columbia River High School WA 2008 Crater High School OR 2010 Del Norte High School CA 2011 Eagle Point High School OR 2008 Eisenhower High School WA 2007 Ferndale High School WA 2010 Forest Grove High School OR 2008 Hanford High School WA 2010 Hermiston High School OR 2011 Hockinson High School WA 2008 McKay High School OR 2008 McNary High School OR 2008 Mead High School WA 2010 Mt. Spokane High School WA 2008 Mountain View High School ID 2010 Mountain View High School OR 2006 Newport High School OR 2006 North Thurston High School WA 2006 Pasco High School WA 2006 South Salem High School OR 2010 Skyview High School ID 2006 Willamette High School OR 2011 North by Northwest Color Guard WA 2010 Northern Lights Winter Guard OR 2006 Marching Band
The primary competitive season for most NWAPA members is Marching Band. Annually 4,000 students and more than 20,000 spectators will attend NWAPA events from September to November. The most popular events are those whose history predates the founding of the circuit including: Pacific Coast Invitational, Sunset Classic, and Festival of Bands. The competitive season ends with the NWAPA Marching Band Championships.
Classification
Marching band classifications are based on the number of marching members within each ensemble. A fourth competitive class is available for those bands who wish to compete regardless of band size[4]. Each year adjustments are voted on by members to keep the number of competing bands among the three size-based classes roughly even.
Class Members A Up to 69 AA 70-99 AAA 100 or more Open No limit Prior to 2009, Novice class was available to marching bands with no previous competitive experience. An Exhibition or festival class is available to visiting bands who wish to take advantage of performance opportunities at circuit events which include comments from adjudicators. A score is given but this is not announced during awards. Many bands who host circuit events make use of Exhibition class.
Events
Each event is scheduled by a bid process which begins several months before the start of the competitive season. Considerations for awarding an event include personnel, host experience, availability and facilities. All events are operated financially independent of the circuit, and each event host is responsible for accommodating visiting bands, spectators and adjudicator travel needs. However, each event host is required to pay a fee to the circuit if they are awarded an event. The host for the annual Marching Band Championships is chosen based on the largest available facility and rotates among several sites.
The circuit's responsibilities at sanctioned events are to manage the flow of bands in competition, be available for any administrative needs, and to provide adjudication and tabulation.
Annual Events
The following annual events were officiated by NWAPA as of 2011:
- Century Showcase (hosted by Century High School)
- Pacific Coast Invitational (hosted by Sprague High School)
- Sunset Classic (hosted by Sunset High School)
- McKenzie Classic (hosted by Evergreen High School)
- Southridge Spectacle (hosted by Southridge High School (Beaverton, Oregon))
- University of Oregon Festival of Bands
- Pride of the Northwest (hosted by Grants Pass High School)
Past Events
Other events previously officiated by NWAPA (NWMBC):
- Oregon State University Marching Band Competition
- Puget Sound Festival of Bands (hosted by Cascade High School)
- Sounds of Thunder (hosted by the Greater Spokane Drum Corps Association)
- Southeastern Washington Cavalcade of Bands (hosted by Pasco High School & Kennewick High School)[citation needed]
- Yakima Harvest Marching Band Festival (hosted by Eisenhower High School)[citation needed]
Championship Sites
NWAPA Marching Band Championships sites:
- 2004: Autzen Stadium, University of Oregon
- 2005: Reser Stadium, Oregon State University
- 2006: Hillsboro Stadium (hosted by Sunset High School)
- 2007: Reser Stadium, Oregon State University
- 2008: Autzen Stadium, University of Oregon
- 2009: Reser Stadium, Oregon State University
- 2010: Autzen Stadium, University of Oregon
- 2011: Hillsboro Stadium (Hosted by Grants Pass High School)
General Event Flow
NWAPA events consist of two rounds - preliminary and final. In Preliminary competition, bands compete based on class with awards given for rank and captions. Bands selected for the final round compete in Open class.
Preliminary Round
Beginning with the 2010 competitive season, the performance order for each class is set by random draw. Event C may have a performance order of classes as Open, A, AAA, AA while Event D may have the classes arranged as AA, Open, AAA, A. Once the order of classes is determined each participating band's performance time is assigned by a second random draw.
Each event host sets a maximum number of bands who will advance to the final round. Typically this limit is between 12 and 15 bands. Preliminary round results are used to select bands who will advance. The highest scoring band in each class automatically advances as well as the next-highest scoring bands regardless of class up to a the maximum number of set by the show host.
Final Round
Advancing bands are placed into groups of four, five or six based based on their preliminary round total called Neighborhoods. The performance time for each band is the result of a random draw within each neighborhood. The size of each neighborhood is based on the number of competing bands who are advanced to the final round.
Adjudication
NWMBC adopted the single-tier version of the Western Band Association (Formerly WSMBC) Adjudication Handbook when it was founded, however in 2011 the circuit adopted a modified form of the Bands of America Adjudication Handbook[5]. Scoring at NWAPA events is based on three broad captions: General Effect, Music and Visual. The broad captions are further divided into six reference criteria or sub-captions[6] with each sub-caption given a maximum value of 200 points. The final score is tabulated by adding all sub-captions, less any penalties. The remaining points are then divided by 10.
The circuit assigns one adjudicator to each of the sub-captions and one adjudicator responsible for timing and penelties, requiring a personnel of seven at each event. The sub-captions and their maximum value are:
Caption Sub-Caption Sub-Caption Points Effect Music Effect (200) + Visual Effect (200) 400 Points Music Individual Music (200) / 2 + Ensemble Music (200) 300 Points Visual Individual Visual (200) / 2 + Ensemble Visual (200) 300 Points Sub-Total 1000 Points Penalties (0) Points Total 100.0 Points There is no tie-break procedure. If there are any ties for caption or placement awards then duplicate awards are given.
Awards
For each round of competition, three caption awards and three placement awards are given. Caption awards for High Effect, High Music and High Visual are determined by adding the scores for each sub-caption or the sum of Individual Music and Ensemble Music scores to determine High Music. Awards are also given for the three highest scoring bands in each class.
The Class Champion and Grand Champion are awarded during the annual Marching Band Champions. The title holders are determined based on scores from the final round.
Past Champions
Following is an incomplete list of class and overall champions.
Year Novice A AA AAA Open Overall 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Sprague 2005 Hockinson 2006 Hockinson 2007 Hockinson 2008 Sunset West Salem Southridge 2009 × Sprague West Salem South Salem Southridge 2010 × Sunset Grants Pass Grants Pass 2011 × Beaverton Sunset Cascade Central Valley Central Valley Color Guard & Percussion
Winter color guard and percussion ensemble classes are based on criteria published by Winter Guard International (WGI). WGI uses a multi-tier adjudication handbook which separates competing units into classes based on experience and achievement. These classes are Regional, National or A, Open and World. NWAPA has modified the WGI system to included an additional regional class, Cadet, for young units as well as establishing an additional national class for developing color guards.
Percussion Ensemble criteria and classes are unchanged.
WGI Class Color Guard Marching Percussion Concert Percussion Cadet - - Regional A SRA - - SAA - - A SA PSA - Open SO PSO PSCO World SW PSW PSCW Independent units, or units not associated with any school or school district, have the the following classes available:
WGI Class Color Guard Marching Percussion Regional A IRA - A IA - Open IO PIO World IW PIW References
- ^ "NWAPA Constitution and Bylaws". NWAPA. http://nwapa.net/wp-content/uploads/1_NWAPA-Constitution-and-Bylaws-010509.pdf. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
- ^ "School Units". NWAPA. http://nwapa.net/school-units/. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- ^ "Members". NWMBC. http://www.marchingband.org/members.htm. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
- ^ "NWAPA T&P Judge Sheet". NWAPA T&P Judge Sheet. http://nwapa.net/wp-content/uploads/NWAPA-2010-TP-Sheet.pdf. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
- ^ "Bands of America Official Procedures and Adjudication Handbook". Music for All. http://cdn.musicforall.org/images/stories/Resources/2011__FINAL_BOA_Rulebook2.pdf. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- ^ "New Adjudication Sheets Released". NWAPA. http://nwapa.net/uncategorized/new-adjudication-sheets-released/. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
External links
Categories:- American marching bands
- High school marching bands
- 1997 establishments
- Supraorganizations
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