By KATHRYN REINHARDT
Marketing Coordinator, Bohlsen Group

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 Nov. 15, during the Finals of the Bands of America Grand National Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. 2015-2016 Tournament of Roses President, Mike Matthiessen, 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 Nov. 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.