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Grand National Championships marches in to Lucas Oil Stadium

100 outstanding marching bands from across the country. That’s what you’ll see at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 9-12, as part of the finale Music for All’s Bands of America Grand National Championships event.

Outstanding high school marching bands from 21 states, including Arkansas, California, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin will compete in the nation’s most prominent marching band championship.

The championship event will feature 100 high school marching bands in the preliminary competition. Eight schools will kick off the event November 9 with the Indianapolis Marching Band Tournament. A panel of nationally recognized music educators and marching arts experts will evaluate each competing band in the Indianapolis Marching Band Tournament Wednesday and the Grand National Championships Thursday through Saturday. Thirty bands from Thursday and Friday’s preliminary competition will advance to Saturday’s Semi-Finals. The top 12 scoring bands on Saturday will move on to the evening Finals competition, where the Grand National Champion will be named. Paige’s Music is the Official Music Store of the event.

Grand Nationals is the largest national high school marching band championship and culminates a season of 21 Bands of America Championships held throughout the country this fall. The Bands of America Super Regional at Indianapolis held November 4-5, also in Lucas Oil Stadium. More than 83,000 participants and spectators are expected to attend, with thousands more watching the event’s live stream on www.FloMarching.com.

Schedule

Gates open on Wednesday, November 9 at 6:15 p.m. for the Indianapolis Marching Band Tournament. This event begins at 7:00 p.m. and will conclude at 9:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony. The Grand National Championships preliminary competition begins on Thursday, November 10 at 8:30 a.m. and will conclude at 11:00 p.m. The preliminary competition resumes on Friday Nov. 11 at 7:00 a.m. and concludes at 9:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony. Gates will open for the Semi-Finals competition on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:00 a.m. with performances beginning at approximately 8:00 a.m., and will conclude at 4:45 p.m. Gates open for the Finals competition on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. with performances beginning at 8:00 p.m. All times are tentative pending the final schedule of performing bands. Current times will be listed at www.musicforall.org.

Fun aspect of the Grand Nationals event: Music for All will host the first massed-choir to perform the National Anthem to open the Finals of the Bands of America Grand National Championships. The massed-choir will be singing the Alfred’s Publication version of the Star-Spangled Banner arranged by Russ Robinson, under the direction of Henry Leck, the founder of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and Music for All Educational Consultant. The massed-choir’s performance will be live streamed on www.flomarching.com.Fourteen Indiana bands compete in this national competition

Fourteen Indiana bands, including Avon High School, Ben Davis High School, Carmel High School, Carroll High School, Castle High School, Center Grove High School, Columbus North High School, Franklin Central High School, Homestead High School, Lake Central High School, Lawrence Township, Monrovia High School, Southwestern High School, and Triton Central High School will compete in the Grand National Championships.

Indianapolis Marching Band Tournament Nov. 9

The four-day event begins as eight marching bands perform in the Indianapolis Marching Band Tournament, presented by Yamaha, from 7:00 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium. The marching bands from Arsenal Technical High School, Broad Ripple Magnet High School, Crispus Attucks High School, Emmerich Manual High School, George Washington Community High School, John Marshall Community High School, Northwest Community High School, and Arlington High School and will compete in the Indianapolis Marching Band Tournament.

Spirit judges will award the most spirited, enthusiastic school with the Spirit Award and a $1,000 scholarship for the school’s band program. Tickets are available FREE in advance of the event from any of the bands participating in the Indianapolis Marching Band Tournament or at the Ticket Office during the Wednesday evening event for $5. The Spirit Award was created to increase awareness in music education programs in Indianapolis schools.Massed-Choir National Anthem

To commemorate the launch of Music for All’s National Choir Festival in 2018, Music for All will host the first massed-choir to perform the National Anthem to open the Finals of the Bands of America Grand National Championships. The massed-choir will be singing the Alfred’s Publication version of the Star-Spangled Banner arranged by Russ Robinson, under the direction of Henry Leck, the founder of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and Music for All Educational Consultant. The massed-choir’s performance will be live streamed on flomarching.com.Special Events

Four college bands will perform in exhibition: Marian University Marching Band on Wednesday at the Indianapolis Marching Band Tournament, Ohio University on Friday afternoon, the University of North Alabama Marching Band on Friday evening, and The Ohio State University Marching Band on Saturday afternoon. Marian University Marching Band will be performing the National Anthem on Wednesday evening at the Indianapolis Marching Band Tournament.

Friday evening’s festivities will include the presentation of the Patrick John Hughes Parent/Booster Award, a national award honoring an outstanding band parent and supporter and named in honor of Louisville resident Patrick John Hughes, co-author with his son Patrick Henry of “I Am Potential.”

Special events include programs for future music educators, student leaders, music education advocates and a three-day Expo in Lucas Oil Stadium.Ticket information

Tickets are still available for the Grand National Championships at Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster by phone and at the Lucas Oil Stadium ticket office. Tickets for the four days of events range from $5 to $117. See all ticket prices at www.musicforall.org. Children ages 10 and under are free for general admission seats. A $5 off any general admission ticket (individual preliminaries, finals or full day passes) discount will be available at the gate for college students with an ID, spectators 11-18 years of age, military members and spouses (military ID required), and spectators age 62 and over.

About Music for All

Since 1975, Music for All, 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, Music for All’s mission is to create, provide and expand positively life-changing experiences through music for all. Music for All’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. Music for All’s programs include 30+ 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 and Affiliate Regional Music Festivals for concert bands, orchestra, jazz and percussion ensembles and national honor bands and orchestras.Sponsorship Information

Music for All 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 Performance Equipment Sponsor: Wenger Corporation; Corporate Sponsors: Ball State University, United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, Vic Firth Company, Visit Indy and the City of Indianapolis, Wells Fargo, Zidjian, and Strategic Advocacy Partner: NAMM; Associate Sponsors: Delivra, Dennis Wick, Showcase International, Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation, REMO, Tresona Multimedia, and Woodwind & Brasswind. 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.

A list of currently enrolled bands, including 14 Indiana bands, can be found at www.musicforall.org/what-we-do/boa-marching-championships/grand-nationals/2015-grand-nationals-bands.