MARCHING BAND ADJUDICATORS SUMMIT

The Gift of Music is proud to sponsor a one-day seminar designed to train and enhance skills for the veteran, developing, and prospective marching band adjudicator. Participants will receive training from four of the nation’s most respected and experienced pageantry arts adjudicators including: Mr. Richard Saucedo Chief Judge Administrator – Bands of America Dr. Chip Crotts Veteran Judge – Bands of America and Winter Guard International Mr. John Howell Veteran Judge – Bands of America, Drum Corps International, and Winter Guard International Mr. David Starnes Veteran Judge – Bands of America and Drum Corps International The training will include presentations by our panel of experts, hands on exercises for the participants, as well as round table conversations on topics such as numbers management, criteria reference, and adjudicator professionalism. 

 

The event will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026 on the campus of Kennesaw State University (Main Campus) from 8:30am – 5:00pm. The marching bands in our nation rely on educated adjudicators who can provide valuable feedback as well as a comprehensive understanding of the judging system. This seminar will better equip both new and veteran judges as they prepare for the 2026 marching band season.

MEET OUR 2026 CLINICIANS

Richard Saucedo

Richard L. Saucedo retired in 2013 as Director of Bands and Performing Arts Department Chair at the William H. Duke Center for the Performing Arts at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana. During his 31-year tenure, Carmel’s concert, jazz, and marching bands earned numerous state, regional, and national honors. Wind Symphony I performed at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival three times and appeared at the Midwest Clinic in 2005, the same year the Carmel Marching Greyhounds were named Bands of America Grand National Champions. The marching band also placed in the top ten nationally for 17 consecutive years and won four Indiana Class A State Championships. Saucedo was named Indiana Bandmasters Association “Bandmaster of the Year” and Indiana Music Educators Association “Outstanding Music Educator.” He is a composer, arranger, and clinician with Hal Leonard, serves as ensemble coordinator for the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, brass arranger for the Cavaliers, and Chief Judge–Team Leader for Bands of America.

John Howell

John Howell is a graduate of Norwin High School, where he was active in Drama Club, Chorus, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Marching Band, serving as drum major for two years. After graduation, he remained on the marching band staff for eight years. He earned a BS in Business Management, magna cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh, and a BA in Business Education, summa cum laude, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. John is a respected visual adjudicator for organizations including Music for All, Winterguard International, Drum Corps International, and the Pennsylvania Federation of Contest Judges (PFCJ), where he serves as Visual Education Director. He has judged national championships across these circuits and internationally in Japan, Amsterdam, and the United Kingdom, and regularly presents clinics in visual performance and adjudication. In addition to his adjudication work, John directs his church’s Chancel Handbell Choir, a role he has held for 12 years, and has been an active choir member and assisting minister for over four decades.

Dr. Chip Crotts

Dr. Cameron “Chip” Crotts is Professor of Practice at Georgia Tech, where he directs the Jazz Music Program and serves as Assistant Director of Athletic Bands. A Grammy-nominated trumpet artist with a career spanning nearly four decades, he has performed with renowned artists including Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Frankie Valli, The Temptations, Arturo Sandoval, Maynard Ferguson, and The Manhattan Transfer. His recording credits include work with The Walt Disney Company, Hal Leonard, and major video game soundtracks such as Halo and The Legend of Zelda. An accomplished educator, Dr. Crotts has led university and professional jazz ensembles for over 30 years and directed All-State Jazz Ensembles across multiple states. He performs regularly with leading ensembles including the Joe Gransden Big Band and Atlanta Pops Orchestra, and has appeared at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Active in marching arts, he is a sought-after adjudicator and currently serves as Brass Caption Head for the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps.

David Starnes

David Starnes is a retired music educator whose 34-year career included leadership roles at both the high school and collegiate levels. He most recently served as Director of Orchestras at Kennesaw Mountain High School (2020–2023) and previously was Assistant Professor and Director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina University, where he led the 500-member “Pride of the Mountains” Marching Band in national competitions and major events, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. As founding Director of Bands at Kennesaw Mountain High School, his ensembles achieved national prominence, earning six Bands of America Grand National finalist appearances, a 2004 AAA National Championship, and the prestigious Sudler Shield of Excellence. The program also performed at the Midwest Clinic and the Macy’s Parade. A sought-after adjudicator, clinician, and designer, Mr. Starnes served for over 25 years as an Education Consultant for Music for All and Program Director of the Honor Band of America. He was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame in 2019.

2026 SCHEDULE AND AGENDA

Marching Band Adjudicator Summit

Saturday, June 6, 2026

8:30AM – 5:00PM

 Kennesaw State University

Main Campus

 

8:30am  REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST – Kennesaw State University School of Music

 

9:00am WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS – David Starnes

 

9:15am  Adjourn to Breakout Sessions – Two separate rooms (Music and Visual)

 

9:30am SESSION #1: BREAKOUT

 

Music Performance: Individual – Chip Crotts – Music

Visual Performance: Individual – John Howell – Visual

 

10:30am –BREAK–

 

10:45am SESSION #2: BREAKOUT

Music Performance: Ensemble – Richard Saucedo and David Starnes

Visual Performance: Ensemble – John Howell

 

12:00pm LUNCH  (Own your own)

 

1:30pm SESSION #3: BREAKOUT

General Effect: Music – Chip Crotts, Richard Saucedo, and David Starnes

General Effect: Visual – John Howell

 

3:00pm  –BREAK–

 

3:15pm SESSION #4: FULL GROUP

Dr. Chip Crotts, John Howell, Richard Saucedo, and David Starnes

 

  • Video Review
  • Mock Judging Exercise
  • Numbers Management Discussion/Criteria Reference
  • Sub-caption Integrity and Profiling
  • Professionalism – Building respect and accountability

5:00pm SUMMIT CONCLUDES

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

Registration deadline May 31, 2026.    

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who may attend the clinic?

The is no prerequisite or judging experience required to attend the training. The clinic is designed to provide information, strategies, and training for individuals ranging from novice through veteran adjudicator experience. The training is specifically designed to provide participants with a renewed understanding of the adjudication process as well as an enhanced skill set as they enter the upcoming fall competitive season and beyond.

Those who attend will receive experiential training from individuals with regional and national level marching band adjudication backgrounds. Participants will also receive caption specific training within their specialized area (visual or music) while utilizing the Georgia Music Educators Association system (both contest and festival sheets) as well as the Bands of America sheets, which are also used by the Georgia Marching Band Cooperative (a Bands of America sanctioned circuit).

The 2026 Marching Band Adjudicators Summit will take place on the Main Campus of Kennesaw State University in the Music Building – Room 109 (MU109). Free parking will be available on campus within a short walking distance of the Music Building. Maps of the Kennesaw State University Main Campus will be provided to all who register for the event

Participants are not required to be a resident of Georgia to attend this training. Given that participants will receive instruction on criteria reference, numbers management, recognition of achievement, and professionalism, these skills are readily adaptable to several state and national models of adjudication. Those individuals who aspire to serve in the State of Georgia or potentially be considered as a Bands of America judge should strongly consider this opportunity, given the experience and connection from those who will be leading the training.

In an effort to prepare for your attendance, we ask that all registrations occur no later than Sunday, May 31, 2026. Seats are limited for this experience in an effort to provide the most individualized instruction and valuable opportunity for peer interaction.

At the conclusion of the training on May 10, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion which may be used for verification and validation of having received the training and a working knowledge of the systems discussed. At this time, Georgia does not maintain an approved list of adjudicators, specific to marching band. However, when considering judges, contest coordinators may inquire to your level of training and expertise as an adjudicator. As a participant in this training, your preparation would be of value for those who are assigning judges to their event.