Western Band Association

The Western Band Association (WBA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes high school music education in California, Arizona and Nevada. Specifically, the WBA organizes many marching band competitions for high school students. Its championships event is considered to be the second largest single marching contest in the country. In addition to marching band events, WBA also organizes concert band festivals, symposia, and musical and leadership clinics. In 2008, over 12,000 students in 133 bands performed in WBA events in multiple competitions hosted throughout the state. They were updated again in 2023. There are currently five divisions:

Class 1A: 50 performers or less
Class 2A: 51 70 performers
Class 3A: 71 90 performers
Class 4A: 91 125 performers
Class 5A: 126 performers or more
Classifications prior to 2023 beginning 2021:

Class 1A: 45 performers or less
Class 2A: 46 65 performers
Class 3A: 66 85 performers
Class 4A: 86 115 performers
Class 5A: 116 performers or more
Classifications prior to 2021 beginning 2004:
Class A: Bands with up to 60 members
Class AA: Bands with up to 80 members
Class AAA: Bands with up to 100 members
Class AAAA: Bands with up to 140 members
Class AAAAA: Bands with more than 140 members
Prior to 2004, there were only four divisions. The original Class AA was expanded to two classes, now AA and AAA. AAA and AAAA became the current AAAA and AAAAA classes. Prior to this (before 2000), WBA had A 60, A 90, AA, and AAA as the classifications. Class champions at the WBA Championships are determined at the conclusion of preliminary competition at championships. After prelims, the bands then move on to one of two finals competitions: the A/AA/AAA Championship and the AAAA/AAAAA Championship. The top three bands from each division move on to their respective championship and the remaining field is filled by the next highest scoring bands. The Finals field is composed of:

The top 3 bands from each of Class A, AA, and AAA, then the next highest 6 bands from those 3 classifications combined (regardless of class and score) for a total of 15 bands in finals. The top three bands from each of Class AAAA and AAAAA, then the next highest 9 bands from those 2 classifications combined (regardless of class and score) for a total of 15 bands in finals.

YearClass AClass AAClass AAAClass AAAAClass AAAAA2000RiverbankTrabuco HillsBuchananJames Logan rowspan="4" 2001BuenaLive OakBuchananJames Logan2002GilroyBullardBuchananJames Logan2003Newbury ParkValley ChristianEl ToroClovis West2004ModestoLive OakValley ViewCerritosJames Logan2005Newbury ParkLive OakFred C. BeyerTrabuco HillsJames Logan2006Newbury ParkIndependenceFred C. BeyerNogalesJames Logan2007Live OakIndependenceFred C. BeyerFountain ValleyJames Logan2008Live OakMadera SouthFred C. BeyerEl DiamanteJames Logan2009Live OakValley ChristianLos AlamitosTrabuco HillsJames Logan2010Live OakClovis NorthLos AlamitosEl DiamanteJames Logan2011PeninsulaClovis NorthBashaGranite BayAyala2012DamienLive OakTrabuco HillsEl DiamanteAyala2013DamienCerritosNogalesEl DiamanteUpland2014Live OakCerritosTrabuco HillsNogalesAyala2015The King's AcademyCerritosClovis EastGranite BayAyala2016The King's AcademyFred C. BeyerCerritosMission ViejoJames Logan2017IndependenceKingsburgTrabuco HillsGranite BayJames Logan2018 colspan="5" 2019The King's AcademyOak GroveMission ViejoClovis NorthChino Hills2020 colspan="5" 2022The King's AcademyEl ToroTrabuco HillsGahrChino Hills2023The King's AcademyNorthTrabuco HillsUplandChino Hills

Previously known as the Class A/AA Championship. Year3rd Place2nd Place1st Place2000Valley ChristianClayton ValleyTrabuco Hills2001BullardAliso NiguelLive Oak2002Aliso NiguelBullardLive Oak2003Aliso NiguelBullardValley Christian2004IndependenceValley ViewValley Christian2005Valley ChristianAliso NiguelFred C. Beyer2006ClovisValley ChristianFred C. Beyer2007Aliso NiguelChino HillsFred C. Beyer2008Fred C. BeyerClovis EastAliso Niguel2009Clovis EastFred C. BeyerLos Alamitos2010Clovis NorthValley ChristianLos Alamitos2011Valley ChristianRancho CucamongaBasha2012Los AlamitosRancho CucamongaTrabuco Hills2013Los AlamitosNogalesClovis North2014ChaffeyCerritosTrabuco Hills2015Live OakClovis EastCerritos2016Los AlamitosCerritosTrabuco Hills2017CerritosFountain ValleyTrabuco Hills2018 colspan="3" 2019Los AlamitosRowlandMission Viejo2020 colspan="3" 2022The King's AcademyFountain ValleyTrabuco Hills2023BranhamThe King's AcademyTrabuco Hills