Plymouth-Canton Marching Band

The Plymouth-Canton Marching Band (PCMB) is a nationally-recognized marching band program located on the campus of the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan.

Music program
The PCMB is part of a broader fine arts program offered in the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. Its Wind Ensemble and Symphony bands have consistently rated among the best in the state of Michigan. PCEP band students and alumni have performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Civic Youth Orchestra, the Michigan Youth Band, the National Honor Band of America, and the MSBOA All State Honor Band and Orchestra. The concert program is taught by directors David Armbruster and Sheldon Frazier.

Winter programs
The PCMB also runs three very successful winter programs through the Michigan Color Guard Circuit and Winter Guard International. Both Winter Guards (A & World) have been State Champions and the Open guard is a two time WGI Open Class Finalist. The Winter Drumline is also a state champion and a WGI World line, the line placed 10th at WGI In 2008. On May 29th, 2007, Winter Guard International announced that Plymouth-Canton's Open Guard would be promoted to the "World" Class.

Staff
Previous staff have included Marc Whitlock (2003-2007), current music director for Discovery Middle School, current music consultant for the Madison Scouts, and former band director at Marian Catholic High School; Andy Ebert (2004 - 2007), current Visual Caption Head at Carolina Crown and West Bloomfield High School; Clayton Wachholz (2001-2003), current music director for the International School in Brussels; David McGrath (1995-2001), current Director of Bands at Carlton J. Kell High School in Marietta, Georgia; Jonathan Ovalle (1995-2006), current director of percussion studies at the University of Toledo; Steven McGuire (1998-2002) current assistant director at Mariner High School in Cape Coral, FL; Jed Leach (2007-2008), Current Percussion director for Georgetown High School in Georgetown, TX,; Rob Myers (1998-2000), current Director of Bands at Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas; Michael Brady Tarr (1993-2003), visual instructor/ clinician for various drum corps and marching bands around the world. Also served as an adjunct instructor at several universities including the University of Michigan–Dearborn; Alan Spaeth (1993 and 1997-2003) Color Guard and show design; Mitch Rogers (1992-2003), drill designer for the Stephen F. Austin Marching Band, Carlton J. Kell High School, and Glen Adsit (1989-1994), current Director of Bands at The Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut.

James Griffith served as Plymouth's Director of Bands until his retirement in 1994. Griffith is widely-respected as one of the preeminent music educators in the state of Michigan.

Awards and honors
Since appearing on the competitive circuits in the mid 1970's, the Plymouth Canton Marching Band has become one of the most successful teams in Michigan history. Within the state of Michigan, the PCMB has been a state champion 21 times, an honor shared with no other groups in Michigan, (both Fine Arts and Athletics), and only with one other group in the country: the Marian Catholic High School Marching Band. Upon entering the Bands of America in 1986, Plymouth-Canton has been a National Finalist (Top 12) all but three years since 1988. This has honor has been exceeded only by the Marian Catholic High School Band. The band has also been to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Tournament of Bands in 1992 & 1996, winning the prestigious competition both years.

Outside of the competition, the band has had the distinction of playing for Presidents Ronald Reagan, in 1986, and George H. W. Bush, in 1992, marching in Orlando, FL, the 1973 Rose Bowl Parade, the 1973 Battle of the Bands shown nationally immediately prior to the Rose Bowl Parade, the Hudson's Christmas parade Santa's band as well as representing the community in various parades throughout the summer.

Competitive results and repertoire

 * 2009 - Beneath The Surface - Bands of America Grand National Semifinalist, Bands of America Ypsilanti Regional Runner-Up, MCBA State Champion
 * 2008 - Kaleidoscope - 11th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist ,
 * 2007 - Out of the Shadows - 7th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, Bands of America Ypsilanti Regional Champion, MCBA State Champion
 * 2006 - The Passion Within - 9th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, Bands of America Ypsilanti Regional Champion, MCBA State Champion,
 * 2005 - Performing Inside Out - 9th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Pontiac Regional Runner-up
 * 2004 - The Trainman Cometh - 10th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion
 * 2003 - Souls of the Gypsy Caravan - Bands of America Grand National Semi-Finalist, MCBA State Champion
 * 2002 - Elasticity - 9th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion
 * 2001 - Programme One - 3rd Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, Caption for Best Visual, MCBA State Champion
 * 2000 - Reflections on Obsessions - 2nd Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, Caption for Best Music, MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Runner-up
 * 1999 - Thoughtcrime, Music for an Orwellian Era - Bands of America Grand National Champion, Captions for Best Music and Best General Effect, MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Runner-up
 * 1998 - America, Land of the Free - 2nd Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, Caption for Best Visual (Tie - Lassiter HS, GA), MCBA State Champion
 * 1997 - Where the Wild Things Are - 5th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion
 * 1996 - Road to Oz - 8th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Runner-up, Fiesta Bowl Grand Champion
 * 1995 - Prophecy of the Earth - 5th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Runner-up
 * 1994 - Kiss of the Spider Woman - 6th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion
 * 1993 - Jesus Christ Superstar - 5th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist
 * 1992 - Sweeney Todd - 3rd Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Champion, Fiesta Bowl Grand Champion
 * 1991 - Sunday In The Park With George - Bands of America Grand National Champion, MCBDA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Runner-up
 * 1990 - Music From Stephen Sondheim - Bands of America Grand National Champion, MCBDA State Champion, Bands of America Toledo Regional Champion
 * 1989 - Sweet Charity - 7th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBDA State Champion
 * 1988 - Singing in the Rain / The Music Man - 5th Place Bands of America Grand National Finalist, MCBDA State Champion