Mike Roberts, a senior trumpet player from Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Illinois, was one on the first students announced during 2014 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band’s annual selection tour. His music teacher, Eric Anderson, nominated him for the band.
All-American Games and the U.S. Army conducts annually conduct a ceremony at each student’s school to be announced their selection for the elite, 125-member marching band.
Michael has been playing piano since second grade and trumpet since fourth grade. He has played in the concert band as well as the jazz band during junior high, while serving as the stage manager for the school musical. Since freshman year, Mike has been first chair on trumpet in eight out of 12 band concerts and has participated in marching band since his freshman year. His first two years, he marched trumpet, while this past year he served as the drum major for the Marching Eagles.
Mike also participated in the school’s top jazz ensemble since freshman year and the school’s Symphony Orchestra, which is the highest honor as a band student. He was selected by his band directors to be a part of the District 230 Honor Band. He has maintained a 4.1 GPA.
The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) is the official selection partner of the USAAAMB and partners with title sponsor, the U.S. Army, along with Drum Corps International and All-American Games.
High school seniors that are chosen for the band display exceptional musicianship, marching achievement, character, and leadership.
Band directors can nominate their outstanding marching musicians and color guard members for the 2015 band through January 31, 2014. All students who are nominated must be a member of their high school marching band, and on track to graduate in 2015. In February, students that are nominated for the band will receive correspondence from NAfME with all audition and application instructions.
Instructions will not be released to the general public until March 2014. Nominees for the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band will be listed on the NAfME website, and nominees of NAfME members that complete the application process will receive an official letter and certificate following the application deadline.
Additional information on the band
Photo Courtesy of All-American Games
Roz Fehr, NAfME Managing Editor for News, October 11, 2013. © National Association for Music Education
