2023 Top 10 High School Marching Bands OF THE YEAR

[@AlexanderHamilton-t5q]

THANK YOU for putting Tarpon Springs so high! I feel like if this had been a Grand Nats year for them, they would have definitely been in contention for the Eagle!

[@Disaged]

Tarpon Springs on top!

[@johnnychikko3800]

Tarpon shares co champ (Vandy). I loved this years production!

[@xyla.c]

They are seriously good!

[@baam710]

I think the most surprising thing is the section of the Blue Springs show you decided to clip for your video. Definitely great highlights of woodwind vs. brass, just not what I would've picked! Very proud alumni regardless - congrats GR on a successful season!

[@innolosalattachebrio]

Tarpon Springs had, by far, the most unique and entertaining show, even if they weren't the cleanest.

[@veronicaorsmth]

mason as well tbh i cried

[@elipm2130]

Fishers Marching band was better tbh

[@lolofriend4701]

their show this year was terribly designed ngl they shouldnt have done a christmas show with vocals even if they were going to macys@@elipm2130

[@lolofriend4701]

tarpon always has the most entertaining shows and i love it

[@blueslushie7716]

​@@elipm2130let me guess, ur from fishers

[@johnnychikko3800]

Totally okay with this overall marching band list. I would have absolutely put Hebron over Carmel due to GE music effect but other than that,…. Oh yeah Marcus! 🤘. Marcus over TWHS if this was SMBC week. Lol. Keep up the thoughtful and great marching arts content.

[@Tacoma-r7r]

As a member of the ctj band i honestly agree with this list i do wish our show was put together a bit better because it could have been such a hit.

[@FridgeLyrics]

I’m not trying to start anything but I was snoozing watching Vandegrift’s 2023 program in person, but that’s just me 🤷

[@Monke2120]

Fun fact, vandegrift is one of the few (maybe the only?) band that Avon has never beaten in direct competition. (Yes I know the sample size is incredibly small, this is mostly a joke)

[@kmills62]

I have no dog in this fight, but I thought Pearland had one of he most beautiful performances Ive seen...all the way from their beautifl uniforms and overall impression to their music. My overall favorite is the Woodlands....love their look and choice of music...

[@lucasb3462]

1. The Woodlands 2. The Woodlands 3. The Woodlands 4. The Woodlands 5. The Woodlands 6. The Woodlands

[@philkeil822]

Blue Springs beat woodlands at Nats. Not to mention Hebron, Carmel, or Avon

[@6band]

If we’re gonna play that game lets just start with the woodlands being on the list 6 times lol, comment was obviously not meant to be taken seriously

[@lucasb3462]

@@philkeil822 cope

[@philkeil822]

@@kbuddy1 well I just straight disagree with you then. I really enjoyed their show. I agree Hebron should have finished higher than Carmel though. My top 5 for GN would have been Avon, Hebron, Carmel, BS, Woodlands. If not for Woodlands Color Guard, WM may have snuck in there at 5.

[@philkeil822]

​@@kbuddy1Yes, Avon 100% won imo. Hebron then Carmel should have been close behind though. Then there should have been a gap followed by the other 3 In a second tier. It is tough to judge though, because there is a very different approach between the Midwest bands and the southern bands. I just go with what hits me in the feels. I personally love the theatrics and visuals BS and Avon throw out there, and no one touches Hebron musically. Carmel is impressive, but they do get a lot of the benefit of the doubt.

[@DCI_Fan0007]

You should do another top 10 underrated shows of 2023, im interested to see what schools would make the mark this year since there were alot of super solid performances.

[@Disaged]

Let’s go tarpon springs #3! I marched that show and loved it!

[@6band]

I saw 2022s victory run in Orlando (I’m from Wando) live and it was incredible, I wish I coulda got to see you guys at nats last year tho 😢

[@Disaged]

That’s really cool. Urban legend was incredible

[@Disaged]

I watched Wando prelims and the show was great!

[@ethanmcduffie1469]

notice how they're ALL TEXAS?

[@The_Jnrel]

Because Texas bands are good?

[@RedHairedSkytel]

Thank you for putting my high school

[@FridgeLyrics]

It’s crazy to see that our high school bands (Texas) are amazing but Texas’s Drum corp is the middest thing ever 😅

[@lexlyrose9497]

I envy Texas bands 😞 THEY ARE ALL SO GOOD, HOLY MOLY

[@FridgeLyrics]

“Everything’s bigger in Texas” I’ve seen all the Texas bands on this list and I gotta say that the only reason that some bands are placed higher in Texas is because the band program in general is much bigger in Texas and schools are really big in Texas so we have bigger hits and more moments that give you goosebumps, but overall my favorite high school show from this year was def Avon.

[@LarrySosbey]

I might be a little partial but I will take the Avon High School for number 1

[@MaxKillerd2]

That Hebron is wild

[@S.Rock80]

GR Blue Springs Mo.

[@johnnychikko3800]

I mean Blue Springs had me a question mark but like 2018 the artistry was just unquestionable. Should high school circuits overly reward “artsy fartsy”programs is another debate. All I know is that I felt something watching that show. Thumbs up MO 👍

[@chriswilson97]

My top 10: 1. Vandegrift 2. Hebron 3. Tarpon Springs 4. Carmel 5. Avon 6. Woodlands 7. Marcus 8. Mason 9. Broken Arrow 10. Bentonville

[@caivean2337]

no blue springs? they would've outscored 4 bands on this list

[@humptydumpty109]

Where’s Blue Springs? They got 4th. Also Hebron is a little bit too high

[@Awesomeness-hb5zl]

Everyone sleeping on flomo 😢

[@theresacaldron9080]

Broken Arrow didn't even attend Super Regional. They ate good, but didn't uave a great year

[@6band]

I’m fine with Broken arrow there, that’s understandable. Bentonville has me scratching my head. I love bentonville as much as the next guy, but over the Texas #5 and on? I just don’t see it.

[@rileymccarter7823]

Where would you place some of the good California bands? (Eg. Ayala and Vista Murrieta)

[@xyla.c]

My sister is in the tarpon springs band!

[@notlaw910]

erm i think you forgot to put Prosper HS on there, their 2023 show was absolutely goated and shouldve at least made finals at state if not won (totally unbiased opinion i swear)

[@MightyMack03]

Nice thumbnail pic 😂

[@Band-47429]

What place would you put Cy fair

[@6band]

around late teens early twenties, very good.

[@Band-47429]

Would you rate bridgeland above cy fair of below

[@6band]

Hard to say, I enjoyed both a lot. I would probably say yes but very very slim margin between both (yes to cy-fair over bridgeland)

[@Band-47429]

I am from fair

[@6band]

@COOPDOG903-rq6ru oh cool, you guys are awesome

[@Kat3Lewis]

What do you think of Miamisburg?

[@Crown_678]

hey just curious if keller was in your top 30

[@6band]

yes, they are around the 25 range for me

[@Crown_678]

@@6band okay 🎉🙌

[@isaac-xz9vn]

No pearland is wild

[@FBIVIBER]

Avon Carmel and blue springs the true big 3

[@biggeejackharley77]

Very subjective as you say, especially if your band is from Indiana or Texas. LMAO, what a joke. The fix is in….

[@Retudhdfjf]

Where would you put bell

[@nathanielgattis8231]

Bro put a clip of marcus where the band didnt even play. Like, at least could have showed the ballad or something

[@TrippKimble]

Where is Harrison on your list

[@BigMan-iy8xj]

No way you put vista and broken arrow in honorable mentions 💀💀

[@johnnychikko3800]

Vista can pretty much out play any program in the country but they do lack visual design iMO. BA suffered the same fate this season. I agree with these rankings

[@a.h.i267]

Did you not see Vistas closer this year??? IMO they should be on the top 10 list just for their closer

[@johnnychikko3800]

@@a.h.i267 I’m not even going to try to debate that performance. It was amazing! My Brass sensitivities would put them Top 3 in the country!

[@Borger-vr]

I am in the Avon band

[@chriswilson97]

Vandegrift would have won grand nats had they gone

[@humptydumpty109]

Let’s not get carried away there😂

[@RidgeNuess]

@@humptydumpty109they got 97.6 at super regional finals so yeah they probably would’ve

[@humptydumpty109]

@@RidgeNuess Not 100%. More like a 50-50 considering how competitive Carmel and Avon are. But I do agree that Vandy should be one of the top bands.

[@jongregory5562]

The woodlands scored a 96 something at San Antonio and got 5th….all about effect and visual at nationals.

[@6band]

@jongregory5562 I mean, they also got a 97 in semis, I think finals they just had a bad run.

[@SomeBandNerd]

Marcus scored higher than Hebron at state and scored higher at BoA San Antonio than Hebron did at Grand Nats

[@6band]

I mean… that doesn’t exactly tell the full story. SA finals was was super inflated. The Woodlands beat Marcus and They got 5th (should have been 4th). The Woodlands snagged a score 2 points lower than SA finals in finals. But also Hebron scored higher than Marcus in nats semis too, and they also placed 1st in a deflated prelims. So for those reasons I put Hebron above (Also I personally prefer them due to how ridiculously difficult their show is)

[@SomeBandNerd]

@@6bandfair enough. Personally I think musicality wise, vandy, then marcus, then Hebron. Visual wise (how it was executed) Hebron,Marcus,Vandy. How difficulty in show, marcus and Hebron tied for 1st, vandy 2nd. Personal opinion obviously and BoA SA scores this year were stupid. Having Spotlight beat pen striped is absurd. I just think since In final competition that marcus and Hebron were in together marcus won, than it should be one in front of if not one behind Hebron. Other than that very solid list.

[@Spiderboiboi]

Don’t sleep on Grants pass in Washington

[@sofiagmez]

smh the opp band is here (woodlands💔)

[@NoobularHistory]

No way you put rouse over cedar park

[@Trombonewaffle]

Huhhh

[@youda-van6597]

bruh Rouse had a better competitive season than cedar park

[@NoobularHistory]

@@youda-van6597 didn’t win state

[@youda-van6597]

@jonathanlevinsky6757 Technically, winning state doesn't confirm that Cedar Park should be over Rouse for the scoring rubric is different. That's like saying Rouse is better than Vandy for all season just because they beat them once.

[@6band]

I did this based on my personal opinions and what would happen in BOA events, both lean Rouse hard. Rouse is 4/4 in BOA runs this season over Cedar Park, and the beat them by over 3.5 points in SA prelims and finals, sweeping 3A. And in my own personal opinion which usually breaks ties or super close decisions, I also lean Rouse pretty big.

[@marynarasauce18]

I’m apart of the fishers high school guard and some how our score went down 😭. We went from a 92 to an 88 at grand nats

[@6band]

when did you guys get 92?

[@stephaniemccullough1407]

I don't see the 92... Prelims-89.200 Semi Finals-90.200 Finals-88.90 Either way, super consistent and a fun show!

[@cardnal44]

​@stephaniemccullough1407 i think they read 90.2 as 92

[@lilliegvmi]

avons visuals are amazing, but that woodwinds feature was so boring

[@Mikkaag]

I'm sorry but the judging panel didn't agree.

[@AlexanderHamilton-t5q]

Actually, the judges did agree. Hebron won Music.@@Mikkaag

[@Mikkaag]

@user-ll2qm4so8u Yes they agreed that Hebrons music was better than everyone else's. Not that Avons wind solo was boring. However Music is not the entire show and that is what the judges saw as well.

[@davidcumberledge1391]

Rouse had the best show at the 2023 state championship. Just saying

[@Mikkaag]

@@kbuddy1 LOL

[@Coolman-oe3io]

Watching blue springs was just weird

[@stephaniemccullough1407]

How so?

[@caivean2337]

@@stephaniemccullough1407 its a weird show in general, def my favorite of the year though ending almost made me cry

[@stephaniemccullough1407]

The movements were more contemporary and 'earthy', which I find super interesting. The entire show is about how each person is unique and makes an imprint on the world, thus the swirl marching patterns that mimic a fingerprint. The talent of each band had me awestruck but the Blue Springs show has a lot of depth to the story and movements. Id never seen anything like that in a marching performance before.

[@tandoesaquee8192]

@@caivean2337thank you so much! (I was the guard soloist)