The All Star Invitational Marching Band combines the skill of the country’s best marching band students with the excitement of performing in front of nearly 75,000 fans. Each year, we bring together the most talented high school marching band performers to work with the biggest names in the marching profession and showcase their skills by performing at a prestigious national event. In 2014, through special arrangement we are proud to offer selected students the opportunity to perform on one of the biggest stages in college football – the Orange Bowl in South Florida!

For 2014, the All Star Invitational Marching Band is proud to bring together directors from the most prestigious college music and marching programs in the nation*.

• Dr. Ken Dye – Director of Bands, University of Notre Dame
• Barry Bernhardt – Director of Marching Bands, Florida International University
• Jim Hudson – Director of Athletic Bands, Arizona State University
• Norm Ruebling – Acclaimed Percussion Director
• Wes Cartwright – Award-Winning Color guard Director from Nationally Acclaimed Broken Arrow High School

These directors have received national acclaim for their work and have extensive experience in working with talented students, making them the perfect choice to mentor participants in the All Star Invitational Marching Band. All Stars will also have the opportunity to work with other renowned directors as they rehearse for the Orange Bowl.

*Please note that all directors’ participation is contingent upon the performance of their school’s football teams.

Students spend much of their time focused on preparing for their performances. However, the program also allows performers the opportunity to experience the excitement of their destination, sunny Miami. Highlights of the 6-day program include the opportunities to:

• Work with legendary marching band directors from the nation’s strongest marching band programs, including Dr. Ken Dye (Notre Dame), Barry Bernhardt (Florida International University), Norm Ruebling (Percussion Director), Jim Hudson (Arizona State University), and more (contigent upon the performance of the directors’ football teams)
• Earn free academic credit through our Discovery for Credit program
• Showcase your talent on one of the most prestigious stages in college football – the Orange Bowl game
  • Play in the exclusive All Star Invitational Marching Band performance
  • Perform in the halftime show for nearly 75,000 fans
  • Take part in additional performance opportunities, which have in the past included such activities as marching in the Jr. Orange Bowl parade
• Rehearse and interact with fellow elite performers
• Participate in a professional music leadership seminar
• See yourself on the big screen, experience sunny Miami, and celebrate at an exclusive All Star party

The 2014 All Star Invitational Marching Band will take place December 30, 2013 – January 4, 2014. The Orange Bowl game is January 3, 2014.

The All Star Invitational Marching Band is operated by WorldStrides Heritage Performance programs through special arrangement with the Orange Bowl. For more than three decades, WorldStrides Heritage Performance programs have promoted excellence among choirs, bands, orchestras, and dance and cheer squads by providing outstanding educational and performance opportunities for accomplished student performers across North America. The All Star Invitational Marching Band is yet another unique educational performance opportunity operated by WorldStrides Heritage Performance programs.

Music directors from around the United States, Canada, and abroad are asked to recognize and nominate talented marching students in grades 9-12. Nominated students and self-nominating students are then invited to individually apply for selection. Applicants must submit a complete application and audition recording. Self-nominating students must additionally submit a teacher recommendation. All applications are then reviewed by an expert board of music professionals for final selection, and parts are assigned based upon audition score ranking. All applicants will be notified of their status by October 1, 2013.

All applications must include the following components*:

• Complete Application Form, signed by applicant and guardian
• Complete Performing Biography Form
• Audition DVD (described below) or posted recording, such as on YouTube
• A $295 participation deposit (the full deposit amount, minus the $10 application fee is refunded if not selected. Once accepted, the deposit becomes non-refundable.)

* Application materials will not be returned

Applicants submit the materials using the paper application available on the Performers section. Applications will not be considered until all required pieces are received. If an applicant fails to submit required portions, the deposit will not be refunded.

Each student must submit an audition recording. The video should be mailed to our office for Board evaluation or posted on YouTube. Recording must meet the following criteria*:

Instrumentalists:

Please submit two (2) videos:

Video 1: Marching Audition

• This is an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their ability to march and play music at the same time
• The video may be of the applicant marching while playing with a band or solo
• Applicant should be visible during most of the video
• Video may be recorded inside or outside
• The video should be one take and not pieced together
• Applicant may play any piece of his/her choosing
• Video should not exceed 5 minutes in length

Video 2: Solo Performance

• Applicant may select any piece of his/her choosing, as long as it shows the student playing at his/her best
• Recording may be a concert or rehearsal setting, but it should not include any other musicians playing
• Applicant should be visible during most of the video
• Video should not exceed 3 minutes in length

Additional Notes:

• Videos are not expected to be professionally produced and can be made at home, even on a cell phone camera.
• Recordings may not be engineered or enhanced in any manner.
• Audition may be on more than one instrument. Applicant only needs to submit one application deposit, but would need to submit multiple videos in this case.

Percussionists: Additional Requirements

Please submit solo performances on all of the following instruments (not necessarily while marching):

• Snare (Traditional)
• Tenors
• Bass Drum
• Cymbals
• Recordings should include 2 minutes per instrument

Color guard:

Please submit one (1) video:

• This video is the applicant’s opportunity to show his/her talent.
• Applicant may perform any choreographed routine of his/her choosing, as long as it is at an advanced level and incorporates the following moves:
  • Drop Spins
  • Over Hand or Speed Spins
  • Flag Tosses
• Video should not exceed 5 minutes in length

*Recordings will not be returned

Baton Twirlers:

Please submit one (1) video:

• This video is the applicant’s opportunity to show his/her talent
• Applicant may perform any choreographed routine of his/her choosing
• Video should highlight the following:
• Showmanship, gracefulness, energy, ambidexterity, and coordination
• Mastery of basic techniques, including pattern, baton revolution, and followthrough
• More advanced baton moves, as able (double walkovers, aerials, double illusions, multiple batons, etc.)
• Video should not exceed 5 minutes in length

Parents, family members, and friends are encouraged to join their All Star by either purchasing one of our Family Program packages or by purchasing individual tickets to the game. Information on package options will be provided to All Stars once accepted and also posted on the Family page of this website. Other than individual tickets to the game, all hotels, activities, touring and events are available only as part of a package (cannot be purchased separately).

The safety and security of our student performers is our highest priority. Though all students will be provided options to have their family participate in a Family Program package, we recognize that many students may be traveling to Miami alone. We’re proud that the All Star Invitational Marching Band is supported by an organization with nearly 50 years of experience in providing student-focused travel programs. Every program element is designed with safety in mind so that directors, parents, and performers can rest easy, and students can focus ontheir performances. Program elements include:

• Airport shuttles and staff to greet and send off students from assigned airport
• All transportation during the program
• Chaperones (many of whom are music teachers) to supervise performers outside of rehearsals and during activities
• Experienced program staff who are trained in working with high school students
• Accommodations in student-friendly hotels (safe areas, interior corridors, etc.)
• Hotel night security on each occupied floor to ensure restful nights for students
• Exclusive Doctors On Call arrangement for medical support while on the program
• 24-hour staffed emergency office to handle the unexpected
• Extensive participant insurance while on the program

The All Star Invitational Marching Band provides a hassle-free experience so that selected student performers can focus on their main reason for being in Miami – performing at their very best at the Orange Bowl. The program includes*:

• All rehearsal costs, including equipment and sheet music
• Exposure to some of the biggest names in the marching profession for the program duration
• Free academic credit through our Discovery for Credit program
• All production costs and services for two Orange Bowl performances
• Additional performance opportunities as available, which in the past have included performing at the Jr. Orange Bowl parade
• All fees for shown activities, including leadership seminar, evening socials, tailgate celebration and activities
• Orange Bowl game ticket
• All ground transportation** during the program, including transfers between the specified airport and hotels (arrival and departure flights/trains are the responsibility of participants)
• Chaperones and program staff
• Five nights’ lodging in highly rated, student-friendly hotels (quad occupancy) with on-site staff
• All meals beginning with dinner on day one and ending with breakfast on day six
• Privately hired night security on each occupied hotel floor to ensure restful nights for performers
• A 24-hour staffed emergency office to handle the unexpected
• An exclusive Doctors On Call arrangement for medical support while on the program
• Extensive traveler insurance while on the program

*All inclusions subject to change **Transportation to and from South Florida is NOT included

Please note: A set payment plan and need-based scholarships are available.

All ground transportation once in Miami, including shuttling between the designated airport and hotels, is included (for registered participants of the program only). Transportation to and from Miami is the responsibility of each participant. Because this is a selective program, we encourage applicants to wait to book airline tickets until after they have received both their acceptance and the specified arrival/departure times and locations.

All Stars are given a window of time at a specific Miami airport during which included transportation to and from the hotel will be provided. Participants should book their flight arrival and departure times to coincide with these periods in order to meet program representatives at the airport and take advantage of this included service. Participants arriving or departing outside of these windows will be responsible for arranging their own transportation to or from the assigned hotel.

Participants arriving into a different airport than the one assigned, by train, or by car should proceed directly to the official program hotel for registration. Specific details will be provided to program participants prior to departure.

The All Star Invitational Marching Band is dedicated to bringing together talented student performers from across North America. Need-based, partial scholarships are available to ensure that performers from all economic backgrounds are able to experience this unique performance opportunity. Please call 1-855-803-3334 for more information.

All Stars will stay at a highly rated, student-friendly South Florida hotel. Each hotel has been chosen for its cleanliness, hospitality, and safe location. Our hotels are student friendly and are rated highly by directors who have participated in our programs.

All Stars are placed four to a room with double beds in each room. In general, roommate selection is randomly assigned by gender. Meeting new people and making new friends is a key element of the All Star Invitational Marching Band and roommates enhance the entire experience. If an All Star is traveling with a family member who has purchased a 6-Day Family Program package, they may request to room together. Occupancy other than four-to-a-room requires a room surcharge. Please contact us if you would like more information about this option.

During the program, families may call our Tour Central office at 1-800-999-4542. We have staff on call 24 hours a day, so that we will be able to put parents in touch with their child in case of an emergency. Please also note that students carry with them a name badge with a toll-free number listed on the back, so they can reach support staff for any reason, at any time.

To ensure a positive experience for all, students are required to sign a behavior contract before participating in the All Star Invitational Marching Band.

The Program and Travel Protection Plan is designed exclusively for All Stars and Family Program participants and represents a great value for travel protection. In the event that the participant becomes unexpectedly ill or injured before or during the program, the plan will reimburse participants for charges that are assessed due to cancellation or for the unused portion of the trip should it be interrupted for a covered reason. In addition, it addresses minor inconveniences like lost or delayed baggage (including instruments). The plan provides protection not only of the investment in your program, but also offers important coverage while traveling. For complete details of the terms, conditions, and exclusions for the coverage please refer to the Description of Coverage which is available here. The additional cost of the Program Travel and Protection Program is $69 per participant. Payment should be made to the All Star Invitational Marching Band.

For complete details of the terms, conditions, and exclusions for the coverage, please contact us at 855-803-3334.

Please make checks payable to All Star Invitational Marching Band.