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Event History

History Highlights

1971: An official marching band competition for Illinois High School Bands is formalized as “ISU Band Day”

1977: The event is renamed “The State of Illinois Invitational High School Marching Band Championships” and is reorganized into preliminary and finals competition rounds

2013: Hancock Stadium adds the new home stands and the bands begin to perform to the new side

2014: The event is finalized to include 42 bands in prelims competition and 14 bands in finals competition

2019: The event is renamed “Illinois State Marching Band Championships"

2022: Illinois State Marching Band Championships Hall of Fame founded

Past Winners

  • 2023 ISMBC: Saturday, October 21, 2023

    • Class 1A Champion: Eureka High School
    • Class 2A Champion: Morton High School
    • Class 3A Champion: Marian Catholic High School
    • Class 4A Champion: John Hersey High School
    • Class 5A Champion: Prospect High School
    • Class 6A Champion: Normal Marching Band
    • Finals Grand Champion: Morton High School
  • 2022 ISMBC: Saturday, October 22, 2022

    • Class 1A Champion: Eureka High School
    • Class 2A Champion: Morton High School
    • Class 3A Champion: Marian Catholic High School
    • Class 4A Champion: John Hersey High School
    • Class 5A Champion: Prospect High School
    • Class 6A Champion: Normal Marching Band
    • Finals Grand Champion: Morton High School
  • 2021 ISMBC: Saturday, October 23, 2021

    • Class 1A Champion: Eureka High School
    • Class 2A Champion: Morton High School
    • Class 3A Champion: Marian Catholic High School
    • Class 4A Champion: John Hersey High School
    • Class 5A Champion: Edwardsville High School
    • Class 6A Champion: Lincoln-Way Marching Band
    • Finals Grand Champion: Lincoln-Way Marching Band
  • 2020 ISMBC: No Event Hosted

  • 2019 ISMBC: Saturday, October 19, 2019

    • Class 1A Champion: Illinois Valley Central High School
    • Class 2A Champion: Morton High School
    • Class 3A Champion: Marian Catholic High School
    • Class 4A Champion: John Hersey High School
    • Class 5A Champion: Prospect High School
    • Class 6A Champion: Lockport Township High School
    • Finals Grand Champion: Lincoln-Way Marching Band
  • 2018 ISMBC: Saturday, October 20, 2018

    • Class 1A Champion: University High School
    • Class 2A Champion: Morton High School
    • Class 3A Champion: Marian Catholic High School
    • Class 4A Champion: John Hersey High School
    • Class 5A Champion: O’Fallon Township High School
    • Class 6A Champion: Lincoln-Way Marching Band
    • Finals Grand Champion: Lincoln-Way Marching Band
  • 2017 ISMBC: Saturday, October 14, 2017

    • Class 1A Champion: Eureka High School
    • Class 2A Champion: Morton High School
    • Class 3A Champion: Marian Catholic High School
    • Class 4A Champion: John Hersey High School
    • Class 5A Champion: O’Fallon Township High School
    • Class 6A Champion: Lincoln-Way Marching Band
    • Finals Grand Champion: no Finals competition due to weather
  • 2016 ISMBC: Saturday, October 22, 2016

    • Class 1A Champion: Eureka High School
    • Class 2A Champion: Morton High School
    • Class 3A Champion: Marian Catholic High School
    • Class 4A Champion: John Hersey High School
    • Class 5A Champion: Prospect High School
    • Class 6A Champion: Lincoln-Way Marching Band
    • Finals Grand Champion: Marian Catholic High School