MARCHING.COM: Bands of America Grand National Champion to get Rose Parade invitation

Music for All and Tournament of Roses announce partnership for at least three years

INDIANAPOLIS, July 22, 2010 — Music for All and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses have announced a partnership granting the winner of the Bands of America Grand National Championship an invitation to appear in the Tournament of Roses Parade, starting with the 2010 champion for the 2012 parade.

Music for All's Bands of America Grand National Championship is the premier event for America's high school marching bands. Beginning with the 2010 Grand National Championship and continuing through at least the 2012 Championship, the winner will receive a one-year automatic invitation to the 2012 parade and continuing through the 2014 Rose Parade.

"The Bands of America Grand National Championship has some of the most recognized bands in the nation participate each year," said Music for All President and CEO Scott McCormick. "This agreement with the most recognized parade in the world makes for a wonderful partnership and opportunity to showcase the Grand National Champion marching band in this incredible parade."

The Bands of America Grand National Championship is held each November in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. More than 90 bands from across the country compete for the title of national champion. The 2010 championship will be held November 10-13. The 2012 President of the Tournament of Roses, along with the music committee chair, will be on hand to present the winning band with the invitation to the 2012 Rose Parade.

"The Bands of America Grand National Champion will be a wonderful addition to the roster of Rose Parade marching bands," said 2011 Tournament of Roses President Jeffrey Throop. "Each year we seek out the most entertaining and hardest working bands and are sure that the BOA grand champion will thrill Parade viewers in Pasadena and around the world on television."

Each New Year's Day, the world focuses its attention on Pasadena, California, U.S.A., home of the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. A celebration more than a century old, the festival of flowers, music and sports is unequaled anywhere in the world. It's America's New Year Celebration, and bands from around the world apply for the honor of an invitation to perform in the Rose Parade. Each year, only 22 are selected to make the five-and-a-half-mile trek down the famed Colorado Boulevard.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Music for All (MFA) uniquely combines regional and national music-event programming with awareness campaigns and advocacy aimed at expanding access to music in schools and communities. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization, MFA's programs include 25-plus annual events, including the Bands of America Grand National marching band championships, Regional marching band championships across the country, the Music for All National Festival and the Music for All Summer Symposium. The Bands of America National Honor Marching Band has also had the privilege of appearing in the 2005 and 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade and looks forward to a return in the coming years. Learn more at www.musicforall.org.

Source material courtesy of Music For All.

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Bands of America Grand National Champion to get Rose Parade invitation