About Us

The Ben Davis Marching Band is known as one of the longest-running Marching programs in Indiana. Founded in 1918,  we’re a 9-Time winner of the Indiana State Field Show Championship, a 5-time winner of the Indiana State Fair Marching Contest, and a 9-time ISSMA State Champion.

BD set the Indiana State Record for the most consecutive Class A State Championship wins, with 5 in a row from 1984-1988, and went on to win again in 1993.

We have performed for six U.S. Presidents – Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and we represented the State of Indiana at the 1960 and 1984 Presidential Inaugurations.

In 2012, we marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California for the 7th time.

An annual Ben Davis Bands Tradition is marching in the Indy 500 Festival Parade, and we have appeared in the opening ceremonies for the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway several times.

At the 2000 Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Championship, we received the Al Castronovo “Mental Attitude” Esprit De Corps Award.

The BD Percussion Ensemble was named the Indiana Percussion Association State Champion in 2002, 2006, and 2025.

The BD Winter Winds, founded in 2022, was named the Indiana Percussion Association State Champion in 2022 and 2025. They were also named WGI Indy Regional Class Champion in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2026. The Winter Winds were National Runner Up at the 2024 WGI World Championships.

The Ben Davis Winter Guard were named State Champion in 2014, 2015, and 2018.

The Ben Davis Wind Symphony was invited to perform at the 2015 Music For All National Concert Festival. They were also invited to perform at the 2026 IMEA State Conference.

The Ben Davis Jazz Ensemble has a strong history of success. They were invited to perform at the 2026 IMEA State Conference. They were named Champions of the 2026 Ball State Dimensions of Jazz Festival.

We’ve also appeared in many major performances and parades, including:

• 6ABC Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade, Philadelphia, PA: 2019

• Performed beside the USS Missouri in Honolulu, Hawaii in Spring of 2018

• Walt Disney World Main Street Parade- Orlando, Florida: 2016

• Hawaiian Classic – Appeared in a special performance in Honolulu, Hawaii with the “Royal Hawaiian Band” at Kapiolani Park, Waikiki and toured Oahu and Maui: 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2014

• Disneyland Main Street Magic Days Parade- Anaheim, California:1963, 1972, 1979, 1985, 1991, 2006, 2012

• Participant in the NFL Super Bowl Pregame Ceremony – 2012

• Disneyland Main Street Magic Days Parade- Anaheim, California:1963, 1972, 1979, 1985, 1991, 2006, 2012

• Florida Magic Kingdom Parade Tour – Miami/Orlando, Florida: 2002

• Fiesta Bowl Parade – Phoenix, Arizona and Disneyland Main Street Magic Days Parade – Anaheim, California: 1993, 1996

• King Kamehameha Festival Parade – Honolulu, Hawaii: 1975, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1992, 1995

• 10th Pan American Games – Performed in the Opening Ceremonies for the World Wide Telecast: 1987

• Marching Bands of America (MBA) Grand National Championship – Open Division Champion: 1983

• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – New York City: 1977

• Festival of States – St. Petersburg, Florida: 1964,1976

• Festival of States – St. Petersburg, Florida: 1964,1976

• King Orange Parade – Miami, FL: 1970, 1973

• Sugar Bowl Parade – New Orleans, Louisiana: 1971

Ben Davis High School Band Directors
          Past and Present (*Director of Bands)

  Current directors

Bonnie Scott (Wayne Twp Band)(1918-?)

Elva Strouse    *

Omar Rybold   * (1938-1953)
Ralph Chandler  * (1953-1964)
Jim Johnson
Fred Niemeyer
Hal Meurer  * (1964-?)
Ray Horton
Paul Silke
Raymond Cox  *(?-1979)
Ron Doak
Gene Smith
Darrell Horton  *(1974-1984)
Dave Monesmith (?-1978)
Bruce Smith
Don Dudine
Kirk Wible (1978-1979)
Ron Elmore
Marlin Meyer
Gary Wishmeyer (1979-2003)
Carl Ouillette (1980-1982)

Craig Reasoner (1982-1985)

Jim Butz  * (1984-2009)
Gary Fields (1985-2003)
Gary Rudolph (2000-)
Shawn McNabb (2003-2017)

John Papandria  *(2003-2012)
David Cole  * (2009-2022)
Ken Karlin (2012-2023)

Patrick Van Arsdale * (2017-)

Lyujohn Williams (2022-)

Jessica Holcomb (2023-)