in addition to the university interscholastic league (uil) competitions, the band regularly competes in independent contests (usually run by schools) and bands of america (boa) contests at both the regional and national levels. in november 2007, the bell marching band won the boa grand national championship and additional awards for outstanding music performance and outstanding general effect. in 2006, the marching band was awarded "outstanding musical performance" and placed 2nd overall at the boa grand nationals. in 2004, the band won the boa st. louis super-regional and captured all captions (specific categories of judgment - music, marching, and general effect). in other boa grand national competitions, the band placed 4th in 2001, 5th in 2003, 3rd in 2005, 2nd in 2006, 1st in 2007, 2nd in 2008, 2nd in 2009, 3rd in 2010, and 10th in 2013. since 2000, the band has medaled at 22 boa events and 4 of 4 times at the uil state marching band contest. from 1998 to 2013, the l.d. bell marching band placed in the top 5 of every contest entered.