Plymouth-Canton Marching Band

Plymouth-Canton Marching Band
Logo	File:PCMBLogo.png
School	Plymouth-Canton Educational Park
Location	Canton, MI
Founded	1972 (1972)
Director	David Armbruster & Jonathan Thomann
Members	192
Uniform	See below
Website	pcmb.net

The Plymouth-Canton Marching Band (PCMB) is a nationally recognized marching band program located on the campus of the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan.

Music program

The PCMB is part of a broader fine arts program offered in the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. Its Wind Ensemble and Symphony bands have consistently rated among the best in the state of Michigan. PCEP band students and alumni have performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Civic Youth Orchestra, the Michigan Youth Band, the National Honor Band of America, and the MSBOA All State Honor Band and Orchestra. The concert program is taught by directors David Armbruster and Jon Thomann.

Winter programs

The PCMB also runs three very successful winter programs through the Michigan Color Guard Circuit and Winter Guard International. Both Winter Guards (A & World) have been State Champions and the Open guard is a two time WGI Open Class Finalist. The Winter Drumline is also a state champion and a WGI World line, the line placed 6th at WGI In 2013. On May 29, 2007, Winter Guard International announced that Plymouth-Canton's Open Guard would be promoted to the "World" Class.

Staff

Previous staff have included Marc Whitlock (2003–2007), current music director for Discovery Middle School; Andy Ebert (2004–2007), current Visual Caption Head at Carolina Crown and West Bloomfield High School; Martin Montoya (2005–2008), current assistant director at Brazoswood High School in Clute, Texas; Clayton Wachholz (2001–2003), current music director for the International School in Brussels; David McGrath (1995–2001), current Director of Bands at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw, Georgia; Jonathan Ovalle (1995–2006), current Assistant Professor of Percussion at the University of Michigan; Steven McGuire (1998–2002) current assistant director at Mariner High School in Cape Coral, FL; Jed Leach (2007–2008), Current Percussion director for Georgetown High School in Georgetown, TX,; Rob Myers (1998–2000), current Director of Instrumental Music for Dallas ISD. Michael Brady Tarr (1993–2002), visual instructor/ clinician for various drum corps and marching bands. Alan Spaeth (1993 and 1997–2003) Color Guard and show design; Mitch Rogers (1992–2003), drill designer for the Stephen F. Austin Marching Band, Carlton J. Kell High School, Glen Adsit (1989–1994), current Director of Bands at The Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut; Don Booher, Chris (Gale) Booher, Patrick Ruddy, Tom Fikes, Chad Jacobs, Jonathan Miller, Casey Swanson, George Hester, David Kline, Benjamin Clark, Mark Hart, John Shaw, Dan Arreola Ian Horste, and Sheldon Frazier (currently associate director at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA). Some more previous staff include Sean McElroy, Scott Beck, Emery Craig, Dick Eathorne, and Ross Blackley. Their current staff includes James Sparling, Noah Bellamy, Katie Hanka, and Kevin J.

Legendary drill writer Steve Brubaker wrote the drill for Plymouth's first national championship which also featured uniforms designed by Steve Cesario.

James Griffith served as Plymouth's Director of Bands until his retirement in 1994. Griffith is widely respected as one of the preeminent music educators in the state of Michigan.

Uniform

Shako: Gray Cadet style shako and plume with three silver buttons on left side (Also worn as black or white depending on show theme). Black brim with decorative silver chain on the front.

Jacket: Gray jacket with darkening shades continuing down the front to a much darker gray. Three silver buttons are located on the upper right corner of the jacket. (Also worn as black or white depending on the show theme.) PCMB logo is stitched into the lower right hand corner. Gauntlets are white. Up until 1998, the cadet style shako and plume was black instead of the current gray and buttons of the left side were light gold rather than silver (always worn as black, no matter what the show theme.) Gauntlets were still white and all other present rules and regulations were in place.The PCMB logo was first stitched into the lower right hand corner of the jacket in 1976 in honor of the United States' Bicentennial Celebration.

Pantaloons: Black breeches with darkening shades that continue down the sides to a much shinier black anklet. One pocket is located on each pant, facing outward. From 2009-2011, right pocket featured an additional, smaller, mobile telephone-sized pocket within itself. Rules forbid members from carrying any telecommunications device on their personnel during performances, however, the inclusion of this controversial pocket had gained widespread use as a holder of loose change. In its two-year stay on the PCMB uniform, the miniature pocket was the source of unwarranted distraction as many a frustrated marchers spent several agonizing seconds trying to procure a loose dime from its narrow depths (also rumored to be black). As such, this third pocket was removed prior to the 2012 marching band season to very little media attention.

Awards and honors

Since the mid-1970s, the Plymouth Canton Marching Band has become one of the most consistent high school marching bands in Southeast Michigan. Within the state of Michigan, the PCMB has been a state champion 25 times, an honor shared with no other groups in Michigan, (both Fine Arts and Athletics), and only with one other group in the country: the Marian Catholic High School Marching Band. Upon entering the Bands of America in 1986, Plymouth-Canton has been a National Finalist (Top 12) all but three years since 1988. This has honor has been exceeded only by the Marian Catholic High School Band. The Plymouth-Canton Marching Band has won more than 500 awards in 16 years. The band has also been to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Tournament of Bands in 1992 & 1996, winning the prestigious competition both years.

Outside of the competition, the band has had the distinction of playing for Presidents Ronald Reagan, in 1986, and George H. W. Bush, in 1992, marching in Orlando, FL, the 1974 King Orange (Bowl) Parade, the 1973 Rose Bowl Parade, the 1973 Battle of the Bands shown nationally immediately prior to the Rose Bowl Parade, the Hudson's Christmas parade Santa's band as well as representing the community in various parades throughout the summer. In 2011, the band marched in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

In 2016 the band will be marching in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Competitive results and repertoire

• 2015 (2015): E - X - O - MCBA State Champion
• 2014 (2014): Don't Bother, They're Here - Bands of America Grand National Semi-Finalist. MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Runner-up
• 2013 (2013): Inferno - Bands of America Grand National Semi-Finalist, MCBA State - 4th Place
• 2012 (2012): The Last Dance - 12th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, Bands of America Pontiac Regional Champion, Bands of America Indianapolis Super Regional-6th Place, MCBA State Champion
• 2011 (2011): Ancient Gardens of Babylon - Bands of America Pontiac Regional Runner-Up, MCBA State Runner-Up
• 2010 (2010): The Source - Bands of America Grand National Semifinalist, Bands of America Pontiac Regional Runner-Up, Bands of America St. Louis Super Regional-4th Place, MCBA State Runner-Up
• 2009 (2009): Beneath The Surface - Bands of America Grand National Semifinalist, Bands of America Ypsilanti Regional Runner-Up, MCBA State Champion
• 2008 (2008): Kaleidoscope - 11th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist
• 2007 (2007): Out of the Shadows - 7th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, Bands of America Ypsilanti Regional Champion, MCBA State Champion
• 2006 (2006): The Passion Within - 9th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, Bands of America Ypsilanti Regional Champion, MCBA State Champion
• 2005 (2005): Performing Inside Out - 9th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Pontiac Regional Runner-Up
• 2004 (2004): The Trainman Cometh - 10th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion
• 2003 (2003): Souls of the Gypsy Caravan - Bands of America Grand National Semi-Finalist, MCBA State Champion
• 2002 (2002): Elasticity - 9th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion
• 2001 (2001): Programme One - 3rd Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, Caption for Best Visual, MCBA State Champion
• 2000 (2000): Reflections on Obsessions - 2nd Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, Caption for Best Music, MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Runner-up
• 1999 (1999): Thoughtcrime, Music for an Orwellian Era - Bands of America Grand National Champion, Captions for Best Music and Best General Effect, MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Runner-up
• 1998 (1998): America, Land of the Free - 2nd Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, Caption for Best Visual (Tie|event= Lassiter HS, GA), MCBA State Champion
• 1997 (1997): Where the Wild Things Are - 5th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion
• 1996 (1996): Road to Oz - 8th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Runner-up, Fiesta Bowl Grand Champion
• 1995 (1995): Prophecy of the Earth - 5th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Runner-up
• 1994 (1994): Kiss of the Spider Woman - 6th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion
• 1993 (1993): Jesus Christ Superstar - 5th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist
• 1992 (1992): Sweeney Todd - 3rd Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Champion, Fiesta Bowl Grand Champion
• 1991 (1991): Sunday In The Park With George - Bands of America Grand National Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Runner-up
• 1990 (1990): Music Of Stephen Sondheim - Bands of America Grand National Champion, MCBDA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Champion
• 1989 (1989): Sweet Charity - 7th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBDA State Champion
• 1988 (1988): Singing in the Rain / The Music Man - 5th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBDA State Champion

External links

• The Plymouth-Canton Marching Band's home page