Bands of America Honor Band Invited to Perform in the 2017 and 2021 Rose Parades

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses has invited Music for All’s Bands of America Honor Band to perform in the 2017 & 2021 Rose Parades.

Bands of America Honor Band invited to perform in the 2017 and 2021 Rose Parades^®

INDIANAPOLIS – Music for All’s Bands of America Honor Band has been offered an invitation from the Pasadena Tournament of Roses^® to perform in the 2017 and 2021 Rose Parades. The Bands of America National Honor Band is a program of Music for All, one of the nation’s leading organizations in support of music making.

This agreement between the Tournament of Roses and Music for All allows Music for All to promote auditions for the honor band on an ongoing basis with the intention to have each of the 2017 and 2021 bands include members representing all 50 of the United States.

The invitation was extended on November 15 during the Finals of the Bands of America Grand National Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Mike Matthiessen, 2015-2016 Tournament of Roses President, made the announcement before an audience of nearly 25,000, alongside Music for All President and CEO Eric Martin. The Bands of America Honor Band has performed previously in the Rose Parade in 2013, 2009, and 2005.

“Music for All is honored to receive this invitation for our Bands of America Honor Band to march in one of the world’s premier pageantry events,” said Music for All’s Eric Martin. “The BOA Honor Band gives every student in the country the opportunity to apply to perform in the Rose Parade for a worldwide audience of millions.”

The unique collaboration includes annual selection by the Tournament of Roses of a Bands of America Grand National Semi-Finalist band to perform in an upcoming Rose Parade. At the 2014 Grand Nationals, which was held November 12-15, the William Mason High School marching band of Mason, Ohio was selected by the Tournament of Roses to perform in the 2015 Rose Parade presented by Honda. The invitation was extended during the Finals awards ceremony, immediately following the announcement of William Mason’s fifth place finish in the national championships.

“The Bands of America Grand Nationals draws over 100 of the finest bands in the nation,” said Martin. “For one of those bands to receive an invitation to America’s most recognized parade is an honor for the band, their students, teachers, parents and community.”

“Working with Music for All is a great way to expand the opportunity to march in the Rose Parade with students nationwide.  In addition to including the annual Bands of America Grand National participant, the Tournament of Roses is proud to offer two additional opportunities – in 2017 and 2021 — for music students to showcase their talents in Pasadena,” added Tournament of Roses President Mike Matthiessen.

Application for the Bands of America National Honor Band in the 2017 Rose Parade will be available online in Spring 2015. Auditions are open to all high school band and color guard members, who graduate no earlier than 2016.

About Music for All

Celebrating its 40^th Anniversary in 2015, Music for All (MFA) is one of the nation’s largest and most influential organizations in support of active music making. Since 1975, MFA, through its Bands of America and Orchestra America programs, has been a destination and set the standard for scholastic music ensemble performance and music education advocacy. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization, MFA’s mission is to create, provide and expand positively life-changing experiences through music for all. MFA’s vision is to be a catalyst to ensure that every child in America has access and opportunity for active music-making in their scholastic environment. MFA’s programs include 20+ annual events, including the Bands of America Grand National Championships and Regional Championships for marching band, the Music for All Summer Symposium camp for students and teachers, the Music for All National Festival for concert bands, orchestra, jazz and percussion ensembles and national honor bands and orchestras.

Music for All Sponsors

Music for All’s efforts are supported through sponsorships, including current partnerships with National Presenting Sponsor, Yamaha Corporation of America; Official Uniform Sponsor, Fred J. Miller, Inc.; Official Student Travel Partner, Music Travel Consultants; Official Equipment Sponsor, Wenger Corporation; Corporate Sponsors: Vic Firth Company, Zildjian, U.S. Army, Texas Dairy Queen®, Visit Indy and the City of Indianapolis; Strategic Advocacy Partner, NAMM; Associate Sponsors: Vandoren, Remo, Inc., Director’s Showcase International, Woodwind & Brasswind and Delivra. Music for All is also supported by the Indiana Arts Commission, Arts Council of Indianapolis, the Ball Brothers Foundation, George and Frances Ball Foundation, and Lilly Endowment Inc. 

About the Tournament of Roses^®

The Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade^®, the Rose Bowl Game^® and a variety of associated events.  Nine hundred thirty-five volunteer members act as ambassadors of the organization and contribute upwards of 80,000 hours of manpower each year.  The 127th Rose Parade presented by Honda and themed “Find Your Adventure,” will take place Friday, January 1, 2016, followed by the 102nd Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual.  Learn more at www.tournamentofroses.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.