Marching to the beat of the parade judges

by Marilynn Horwood
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, June 15, 2006
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, June 17, 2006

Marilynn Horwood and her husband, the late Dick Horwood, as they judged the 2002 parade at the Clarence Center Volunteer Fire Co. Field Days.

So what motivates the hundreds of musical and marching units to practice songs, drill marching and strive to look their best in these events? It’s the lure of competing to be judged the best at what they do. And the often daunting task of selecting the best falls to groups of individuals who gather to judge the parades.

Selecting the Champions

In some cases, as with Grand Island’s upcoming Fourth of July parade, the units are not judged. But generally, groups of judges assist the various parade committees in selecting the champions. The most prominent judging associations in Western New York are the Genesee Valley Judging Association, the New York-Pennsylvania (NY-PENN) Judging Association, and the New York State Volunteer Firemen’s Judging Association–Western New York Division.

Each association has specific rules by which they judge, and also work within the rules of the parade they are judging. Many of these judges have spent years as members of marching units, themselves. Also, they may possess expertise in specialty areas, such as music or motorized equipment restoration and maintenance, and therefore are well qualified to perform the tasks at hand.

Prizes for the winning units range from large cash awards for a parade’s outstanding musical units to trophies and/or cash prizes. But all winners take home bragging rights for being the best that year. Since it takes anywhere from $350 on up to put a band on the street for the parades, the competition is fierce.

Up Close and Personal

Almost every parade has its reviewing stand somewhere along the parade route. That’s where community dignitaries sit and parade announcers work. Judging is usually done in front of the reviewing areas. A specific distance on the street is designated for the judging area, usually 300 feet in length. The judges work on the street, often walking the full judging area with the units and getting “up close and personal” with the marchers.

The word “uniform” is interpreted in the strictest sense. The marchers need to be dressed exactly alike, right down to the position of hats on their heads and the color and style of their shoes, in order to receive maximum points. The rank-and file-lines (parallel and perpendicular lines) of those marching are judged for straightness, and all members of the units must be in step.

Marchers and Music

Color guards are often judged separately, requiring a minimum number in line and precise positioning of the flags and guards. Music judges have to listen closely to the sound of the unit, as well as observe their appearance and marching ability. It’s a little like patting your head and rubbing your stomach simultaneously. Intonation and accuracy of the musicians is a necessity to receive the best scores. Balance between percussion and the other instruments is also an important consideration.

Specialty units such as Scouts, Little League baseball and football players, dancers, animals and floats each are judged according to specific criteria. Motorized equipment can be judged during the parade, but many parade committees are now electing to have them judged when they are parked, prior to the parade, giving the judges an opportunity to better judge the equipment’s condition.

Finally, each participating parade unit is judged for overall effect, be it showmanship of musical units, military bearing and esprit de corps of marching units or interpretation of the theme of a float. At the parade’s conclusion, the judges meet to tally the scores and determine the winners.