All-American Musician Selection Tour is Underway
In August 2009, USAAAMB drum major Christine Norton of Cape May Courthouse, New Jersey, (left) accepted the official band shako from 2008 drum major Mike Blakely at the Drum Corps International finals. Norton was the first member named to the 2009 band.
Beginning this month, press conferences, football halftime presentations, and school assemblies throughout the United States will announce the remaining musicians named to the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band (USAAAMB). MENC partners with SportsLink (producer of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl), the U.S. Army, and DCI to present the USAAAMB.
The current announcement tour for the remaining musicians continues through December. Visit this link to learn about the members of the 2009 band as they are announced on the tour this fall.
The 97 elite marching musicians and an All-DCI color guard will perform during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl halftime show on January 3, 2009, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. All are high school seniors. As part of a recognition package, band members receive an all-expenses paid trip including transportation, housing, meals, and equipment for rehearsal and performance at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. USAAAMB Director and Show Coordinator Bob Buckner directs the staff creating the All-American halftime show. Buckner is director of athletic bands of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
Look for additional band stories in the upcoming MENC journals, Teaching Music and Music Educators Journal.
—Roz Fehr, October 10, 2008. © MENC: The National Association for Music Education
