The Mid-America Competing Band Directors Association (MACBDA) was a governing body and summer high school marching band competition circuit based in the Upper Midwest.^[1]

The circuit's competitive season traditionally began in June, and previously included field, parade, and concert band competitions hosted throughout the Midwestern United States. Beginning in 2008, almost all competitive events were hosted in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and were limited to field band competitions with occasional parade band presentations.^[2]

The most recent circuit championship was at Perkins Stadium, in Whitewater, Wisconsin on July 14, 2019.^[3] The association had twenty-five member bands in 2008, but only five remained active as of July 2018^[update].^[4][5] Competitions were not held in 2020–21 due to the Covid pandemic. As of the 2022 season, the association has not scheduled any competitions.

MACBDA was founded in 1972 by a group of high school band directors who wished to develop a summer competition circuit, similar to competitive junior drum corps.^[4] A summer season was preferable, as average autumn temperatures in the Midwest are often considered too cold for marching bands to perform successfully.

The circuit hosted member bands from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota.^{[citation needed]} Prior to 1991, bands competed in three activities; concert band, parade, and field band.^{[citation needed]} As of July 2018^[update], only five field bands remained active members of the circuit.^[5]

Competing bands were often attached to high school band programs, and supported by band booster clubs. Other bands were supported by nonprofit organizations and accepted performers from multiple schools or communities. All band members were required to be enrolled in high school, and were eligible to compete the summer following graduation.^{[lower-alpha 1]} However, bands that pre-dated the founding of the circuit could accept members up to age 21.^{[citation needed]}

It is unclear when MACBDA championships were first hosted or which event was sanctioned as a championship prior to 1979. The following is an incomplete and unverified list of championship results:

Past champions