WAMSB

 

 

 

 

An international band association dedicated to promoting global communication and interaction between marching show bands.The Association aims to encourage active participation in marching show bands universally, to strenthen the movement internationally and to stimulate the staging of world class band events.Membership is open to Directors of marching show bands whose bands participate, or are interested in partaking in high calibre events around the world.

 

WAMSB Objectives

 

• To enhance the performance and interaction of Marching Show Bands at a world wide level.

• To encourage the development of "World Class Band Events" held in conjunction with "Internationally" recognized events throughout the world.

• To sanction "World Class Events" which will allow Marching Show Bands from anywhere in the world to be performance rated on their individual form and style.

• To establish the required standards for the judgment and performance rating of Marching Show Bands at such sanctioned events.

• To approve standards of operations used at sanctioned events.

• To consult with, and be a resource for such sanctioned events.

• To convene meetings, conventions and other projects to assist in the development of these projects.In order to achieve these objectives the WAMSB will concentrate on

• the understanding and acceptance of the variety of worldwide cultural forms and styles

• the development of a transparent and fair system of judgment regardless of the form or style,

• the maintenance of a transparent and consistent operations system worldwide,

• the performance and interaction of youth groups on a worldwide basis,

• the potential development for international and cultural exchange of youth groups,

• the worldwide educational development of youth involved in marching bands, and

• the professional development of the leaders of youth groups.

 

 

WAMSB Historical Development

 

WAMSB is a volunteer-based, non-profit association. Its development has been rapid from the concept of a few band directors to become a large world wide association. It has members on six continents from 32 nations representing 24 band associations, their bands and band members. The majority of the membership are involved with school and community youth bands.

 

Through its volunteer support base, it supplies membership services including publications and training. It maintains a site on the world wide web, classifies events, sanctions regional events and operates an Annual World Championship for Marching Show Bands in a different nation around the world each year.

 

The early beginnings started with informal open meetings held by band directors whose bands were participating at International Marching Show Band Competitions. On an International basis they discovered they had common interests, requirements, and concerns relating to marching show bands. There was an obvious need to increase interaction and communication between band directors, bands and band associations world wide.

 

If this could be accomplished the activity would be enhanced for persons of all ages who participated in marching bands around the world. It was recognized that the majority of band members in the world were school-aged youth, and these youth would be the prime benefactors.

 

An initial base of volunteers was established to investigate the development of forming an international association to address the issue. It was agreed interested directors who could come to the International Mid-West Band Clinic in Chicago in December 1991 would meet to assist in the planning of a World Championship for Marching Show Bands and in the development of a World Association for Marching Show Bands.

 

The International Mid-West Band Clinic was chosen as the meeting site because it is the single largest gathering place for band directors and band associations in the world. There is an annual attendance in excess of 10,000 delegates.

 

In December of 1992 another meeting was held at the Midwest where plans were developed further and then put into volunteer action units. It was decided to formalize the plans by registering the Association as a legal entity as soon as the requirements were identified and met. The Association was to be called the World Association of Marching Show Bands.

 

Additional meetings were scheduled December 1993, 1994. Regional meetings around the world were to be established at international events to develop and expand the Associations potential membership base. The legal registration of the Association was completed in the State of Delaware, USA, as a non-profit Association in July of 1995. Subsequently the Association was also registered as an Extra-Provincial Non-Profit Corporation in the Province of Alberta Canada in July of 1997 where its office is maintained.

 

The jurisdiction of the Association is world-wide, viz.: The Association is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The purpose is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which associations may be organized under the general Corporations Law in the state of Delaware as a non-stock, non-profit corporation to promote the international development and communication of marching show bands world wide.

 

Encouraged by national and regional band associations, different potential hosting cities around the world apply to bring the World Championship to their nation. Currently a sanction to host the annual event is granted three years in advance of the event being held. Because of the large number of nations vying to host a World Championship, potential host organizers have been encouraged to apply five years in advance to allow for a detailed examination of their plans.

 

The first sanctioned World Championship for Marching Show Bands was held in Canada in July of 1996. Since then sanctions have been granted to host the Championship in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Italy,

 

Japan and the United Kingdom. Requests to apply for sanction have come from several other nations of the world. Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan and the United States are currently vying to host future Championships.

 

To be awarded a sanction the base requirement is that WAMSB standards, rules, regulations and officials are to be utilized. Consideration is given to a rotation of the location of the Championship which will provide access to a quality event for all Marching Show Bands on a world wide basis. 

 

The event is to be operated on an affordable basis for bands from coming around the world. The inclusion of local volunteers and organizations are required. The potential for increased interaction of various band organizations in the hosting nation is also taken into consideration.