NJA Judging

Adjudication services to Tournament of Bands are provided by the National Judges Association. Originally founded in 1960, the National Judges Association (NJA) is the primary provider of adjudication services and is the parent group of the Tournament of Bands (TOB). TOB member organizations require judges for 140 marching band field contests, approximately 100 indoor contests and instrumental events each year.

The National Judges Association was founded for the advancement and education of its membership in adjudication of all pageantry-oriented events and to promote the advancement of pageantry oriented arts for youth in both scholastic and independent endeavors.

Incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit educational corporation, as such it provides in depth performer, instructor and management clinics, workshops and performance opportunities for scholastic and independent performance groups throughout the eastern United States. Member school seniors can apply for college scholarships that are provided each year. A list of awardees are identified below.

Officers include a director, business manager and a large executive board composed of Caption Chairs and Committees, Education Director, TOB Chapter Coordinators, Indoor Coordinators and liaison of other organizations to which we provide service. Membership in this organization is restricted to those applicants who can meet the set standards for qualification.

At the start of 2008, the current active roster of judges is approximately 240. There are an additional 25 or so prospective judges progressing through the training program for certification in either indoor or outdoor captions. Applicants must progress through an educational process (training and testing) as well as attendance at all related Clinics/Seminars. NJA has and does provided judges to other performance organizations such as Winter Guard International (WGI), Drum Corps Associates (DCA), Elks, Shriners, Lions (state, national and internationally), various junior drum corps associations as well as municipal drill team, cheerleading, parade events etc.

About 2,500 judge assignments are made each year.

For more information on having NJA provide adjudication for your event or if you are interested in becoming a judge, please use the email button at the bottom of this page.

Scholarship Recipients: Scholarships have been awarded to each of the following students from TOB member bands:

2007
Curtis Sharding-Taras - Lake Lehman HS (Grp. 1) -
Brooke Barski - Pocono Mtn East HS (Grp. 2) -
Danielle Paltrineri - Middletown HS, DE (Grp. 3) - University of Delaware
Andrew Rhoads - Wilson HS (Grp. 4) -

2006
Stacey Salata - Schuykill Haven HS (Grp. 1) -
Brooke Barski - Berwick HS (Grp. 2) -
Daniel Ward - Southern Regional HS (Grp. 3) - Stevens Institute
Francis Pryzbylkowski - Lancaster Catholic HS (Grp. 4) - West Chester University

2005
Joshua Wrubel - Williams Valley HS (Grp. 1) - Susquehanna University
Nicholas Allen - James Bennett HS (Grp. 2) - University of Maryland
Nicholas Giovannone - Hatboro Horsham HS (Grp. 3) - University of Pennsylvania
Leah Nace - Ephrata HS (Grp. 4) - Susquehanna University

2004
Sarah Ambrose - Loyalsock HS (Grp. 1) -Millersville University
Lauren Davis -Middletown HS (Grp. 2) - University of Pennsylvania
Jessica Sasser - North Hagerstown HS (Grp. 3) - Hagerstown Community College
Kevin Horney - Calvert Hall College HS (Grp. 4) - Towson University

2003
Niki Lendvay - West Perry HS (Grp. 1) - James Madison University
Maureen Long -AB Ryan HS (Grp. 2) - University of Pennsylvania
Danielle Duardo - Lacey Twp. HS (Grp. 3) -West Chester University
Keith Biddlecomb - Severna Park HS (Grp. 4) - University of Pittsburgh

2002
Carl Bahner II - Halifax HS (Grp. 1) - Lebanon Valley College
Ann Marie Ocampo -Williamstown HS (Grp. 2) - Rutgers University
Rebecca Milley - Coatesville HS (Grp. 3) - West Chester University
Jennifer Lynn Hedrick - Elkins HS (Grp. 4) - West Virginia University

2001
Christian Schroll - Chesapeake HS (Grp. 1) - University of Maryland
Laura Kise - Lebanon HS (Grp. 2) - Kutztown University
Erin Reeves - Rising Sun HS (Grp. 3) - Shepherds College
Jessica Eckenrode - Cumberland Valley HS (Grp. 4) -Duquesne University

2000
Cathrine Trossello - Shore Regional HS (Grp. 1) - Rutgers University
Natalie Shiskowski - Lake Lehman HS (Grp. 2) - Penn State University
Mark Valigorsky - Cumberland Valley HS (Grp. 3) - Susquehanna University
Davis Schwartzer - Washington Twp. HS (Grp. 4) -

1999
Jennifer Geibel - Westlake HS (Grp. 1) - Bowie State University
Kyle Sturgis - Glasgow HS (Grp. 2) - University of Delaware
Randy Tew - Liberty HS (Grp. 3) -
Lindsay Smigelski - North Hagerstown HS (Grp. 4) - James Madison University

1998
Valerie Jimenez - Pleasantville HS (Grp. 1) - Rutgers University
Robert D'Errico - Sterling HS (Grp. 2) - Lebanon Valley College
Megan Graybill - Lower Dauphin HS (Grp. 3) - Penn State University
Emily Vihtelic - Urbana HS (Grp. 4) - Carnegie Mellon University

1997
Michael Johnson - Bishop McDevitt HS (Grp. 1) - Lebanon Valley College
Stephen Cherry - Northern HS (Grp. 2) - University of North Carolina
Michael Cusanno - Archbishop Ryan HS (Grp. 3) - Kutztown University
Timothy Rohrer, Manheim Central HS (Grp. 4) - University of Pittsburgh

World Drum Corps Hall of Fame
Past and Present NJA members who have been inducted:
HALL OF FAME
(** Deceased)

Don Adair
Robert Adair
John Arietano
Gene Bennett
Gene Bunting
Ed Cagney
Bob Cardaneo
Carmen Circlincione **
John Collum **
Truman Crawford **
James D'Amico
Vince Deegan **
Ray Eyler
John Flowers
Dominic Fulginiti
Harry Ginther **
Robert Hamilton**
Larry Hershman
Robert Holton
William Hooton **
Robert Jacobs **
Bud Johnston **
Bill Kauffman
Walter Kelly **
Eric Landis
James Mallen
Joseph Marrella
Frank McCormick **
William McGrath, Jr.
William Mullen
Al Mura
Wes Myers
Robert O'Conner
Ralph Pace
Tom Peashey
Eric Perrilloux
Michael Petrone **
James Prime Sr. **
Dan Raymond **
Howard Roberts
Harold Robinson
Robbie Robinson
Jim Russo
Larry Scott **
Richard Templin
John Tully
Red Winzer
William Wildemore
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
John Derr
Philip Dumond **
Gary Karpinski
Robert Zarfoss