Mississippi Bandmasters Association

The Bandmasters Association operated and managed the annual fall district marching competitions and annual statewide marching championships for high school bands. District marching competitions are held at several sites throughout the state and marching championships for bands receiving superior ratings are held approximately three weeks later at various sites in the state to allow for bands to compete against other bands of similar size. In the fall of 2022 hundreds of high school bands competed in the district competitions and 83 bands competed in the championship level competitions. Judges from throughout the United States are invited to adjudicate the district competitions and championship marching competitions and offer critique for improvement.

The Bandmasters Association supports the efforts and activities of band directors through the state of Mississippi by serving as a source of information for band program related questions providing links to training for band safety coordinating and providing information about marching and concert competitions and supplying information about copyright compliance and music adjudication. The Bandmasters also compiles the required music list for concert competition and provides adjudication forms for marching and concert competitions. The Bandmasters serves as a networking platform by providing contact information of band directors in the state and also coordinated activities and information between directors and the Mississippi High School Athletics Association that oversees competitions sponsored by the Bandmasters. The association also provides directors information regarding other music oriented organizations such as the Mississippi Lions All-State Band the American Schools Band Directors Association and the Women's Band Directors Association.

Each December the Bandmasters Association sponsors and conducts a statewide band clinic. Students from different size schools from throughout the state attend where they meet other students audition and are placed in one of three different bands based on musical ability. In the fall of 2022 over 200 students participated in the band clinic. The Bandmasters invites guest clinicians and conductors from Mississippi and the United States to lead instruct and conduct the various bands and teach instructional sessions for students to improve their musical skills. On the last day of the clinic each band performs a concert conducted by the guest clinician for parents and friends attending band directors and students and members of the community.