WAMSB International News

Host City Flag Presentation

2022 World Championship host city, Bangkok, Thailand has officially presented the WAMSB Host City Flag to the 2023 host, Buckhannon, West Virginia,USA.  

“The Music & Marching Arts International Association (MAI) would like to express our gratitude to the World Association of Marching Show Bands (WAMSB) for their support and for choosing Thailand to host the 2022 WAMSB World Championships.

We would like to send the “Host Country” flag and all the opportunities for the marching arts community to the next host in 2023 in Buckhannon, West Virginia, USA, with great success and all the smiles we received from participants.”
 

2022 WAMSB World Championships Results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

WAMSB International is pleased to report the 2022 World Championships held in Bangkok, Thailand were a great success.  We would like to congratulate all the participating bands and extend our gratitude to the organizers and supporters of the event, who did a wonderful job in presenting our first Championship after the pandemic. 

You can view all the performances, obtain results and overviews HERE

Welcome to our 26th Affiliate – Panama!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Welcome to our newest affiliate – Panama!

Some background information from our newest affiliate:

Panamarching507 is a non-profit organization that seeks to positively encourage the musical development of school’s marching bands and professional marching bands who compete internationally, as well as promoting percussion skills and educational musical projects in Panama.

We welcome Virgilio Escala Sandoval, Fermin Aguilar, Erick De León and the rest of the Panama Board to the WAMSB family!

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WAMSB Welcomes our newest Affiliates!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Robert Eklund, President & CEO of WAMSB International is pleased to announce the addition of two new nations to the WAMSB organization, El Salvador and Chile as our newest affiliates.  We look forward to working with these nations in supporting marching show bands, education and world class events in these countries.  They join the 23 other affiliates who continue to provide the very best opportunities for marching shows bands around the world. “It is very exciting to see WAMSB continue to grow as the largest organization in the world dedicated to marching show bands”.

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2022 World Championships – Bangkok, Thailand

With the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 World Championships due to COVID-19, Ireland has chosen to move their 2022 championship dates to a later year.

WAMSB International is pleased to  grant official sanction to Bangkok, Thailand as host of the 2022 World Championships. 

“With the challenges of the pandemic, Ireland felt it was prudent to move their event back, which now allows Thailand to host. Thailand was originally planning to host the championships in 2020, so they are  thrilled to be able to host an incredible event in 2022.” said Chris Herard, Communications officer for WAMSB International. “Thailand had done so much planning before the pandemic struck, so this is really the best case scenario to ensure the 2022 Championships are world class” he added. 

 

2021 Championships Cancelled

 

We are saddened to announce that the 2021 WAMSB World Championships for Marching Show and Concert Bands has been cancelled due to COVID-19.  We thank the host committee for all their hard work and preparations and for taking this important action to keep everyone safe.

We look forward to being back in Rastede, Germany in the future. 

2023 World Championships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 1, 2021

Robert Eklund, President & CEO  of the World Association of Marching Showbands (WAMSB) is pleased to announce the 2023 World Championships will be held in Buckhannon, West Virginia July 17-24, 2023. More information will be released very soon on the event and how to be involved.

For more information, please contact Chris Herard, Director of Communications, WAMSB International.

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COVID-19 Response – 2020 World Championships

Official Press Release 

2020 WC Thailand Covid Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 04/08/2020

In response to the global pandemic, WAMSB International, and Music and Marching Arts International Association (Thailand) have decided to postpone the 2020 WAMSB World Championships until further notice.
 

Bangkok, Thailand: WAMSB International together with Music and Marching Arts International Association are saddened to announce the disruption of the 2020 WAMSB World Championships for Marching Show Bands set to take place in Thailand this July. With the World Health Organization declaring a global pandemic with the COVID-19 virus, WAMSB International and Music and Marching Arts International Association have decided to postpone the 2020 WAMSB World Championships until further notice. The health and safety of our members, participants, judges, volunteers and staff are our first priority.

This situation will continue to be closely monitored by both WAMSB and Music and Marching Arts International to ensure the safest environment for all performing groups and audience members. 

Updates will be provided as they become available. 

We wish all of our friends around the world good health and safe living.