Tournaments of the Michigan State Band Association: 1877–1884

This study examined the history of band tournaments governed by the Michigan State Band Association (MSBA), beginning with the first competition in 1877 and ending with the disbandment of the Association and tournaments in 1884. The research focused specifically on the (a) organization, rules, and procedures of the tournaments; (b) details surrounding the individual competitions held throughout the state; and (c) influence of the tournaments on local culture, participating ensembles, and future band activities in Michigan. The first Michigan State Band Tournament met in Port Huron in June 1877. Festivities included parades, massed performances, and competitions for prizes consisting of silver cups, cash, and new instruments. To ensure equal opportunity among the ensembles, bands were divided into classifications based at first on size and instrumentation and then on ability. Officials added a solo cornet contest in 1878 and expanded this event to other instruments the following year. In 1879, bandmasters met at Lansing to organize the MSBA to standardize rules, select the location of the annual competition, and ensure fairness among participants. The Association and tournaments ended six years later, probably because of the failure of the competitions to generate a profit for the sponsors