About Event

What is the UIL Area Marching Contest?

The UIL Area Marching Contest is the next step after the UIL Region contest, where the judging is more selective and bands receive a ranking rather than a rating.

At Area, performances are evaluated by a five-judge panel: three music judges and two visual judges.

Who does what

Music — Woodwind judge: evaluates woodwind tone, intonation, technique, blend, plus ensemble and content items on the woodwind music sheet.

Music — Brass judge: evaluates brass tone, intonation, technique, blend, plus ensemble and content items on the brass music sheet.

Music — Percussion judge: evaluates battery percussion quality, tuning of pit/electronics (when present), rhythmic precision, plus ensemble and content items on the percussion music sheet.

Visual judges (2): each uses the Visual Adjudication Sheet (Ensemble Movement, Individual Movement and Visual Content) to evaluate form/interval, precision/timing, body/equipment control, staging and how the visual design supports the music.

The short takeaway: Area is where the competition tightens — judges are now specialized so you’ll see instrument-focused music evaluation plus two visual judges — and bands are ranked by a combined judge-ranking (ordinal) system to determine who advances to finals and state.