Rainout Ticketing Policy for 2023 Bands of America Wisconsin Regional Championship Music for All is grateful that weather conditions allowed completion of the entirety of the preliminary competition at the Wisconsin Regional on Saturday, September 16, 2023. We were not as fortunate for Finals. Due to severe weather and after considering the safety and well-being of the participants and audience members, the evening’s Finals has been canceled. We would like to thank all involved in ensuring the safety of band members, spectators, and staff during the inclement weather. No ticket refunds are av ..read more

Know the Steps and Deadlines Money is still available from the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds to use at your school for music education needs. As of today, there are still billions of dollars left in several funds. Wenger Corporation has been working with school administrators and music teachers to help them determine ways to elevate their music education programs by using these valuable funds. Here is one school’s story. Cleve A. Maloon K-12 Arts Education Program Planner School District of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, F ..read more

By: Doug Pileri  Chairman, Music for All  My parents gave me the gift of music. They paid for clarinet lessons when I was in seventh grade. Dad thought it would help me learn to listen better; my teacher, Bill Mosher at Benjamin Franklin Jr High School, thought I should practice more; my grandparents thought I was wonderful from the beginning. For my first public performance, only one year later, I played “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” at my grandpa’s retirement party. What I’ll always remember is the applause. A Musical Journey And so, my adventure in music began. In h ..read more

Bryan Luiten, a four-time Bands of America Regional Champion, says that band changed his life: “It has taught me self-confidence, work ethic, strength of character, and the priceless value of friendship.”  As a tenor saxophone player, jazz lover, and band nerd at heart, Bryan did not feel like he fit in with the kids at his school. That all changed when he happened upon an Ayala High School (CA) marching band practice. The efficiency with which the band rehearsed, combined with the dedication and passion of the students made Bryan feel right at home. He knew this community was somethin ..read more

Bands of America alumnus Alan Kosub made his first band memory as a second grader at a middle school band concert. When he was chosen from the audience to conduct a piece, Alan felt a spark of passion that continues to drive his love for music to this day.  At Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas, Alan participated in Bands of America Regionals and Super Regionals and attended the Bands of America Grand National Championships in 2012. One of his most distinct memories is hearing the announcer’s voice as he and his band stepped onto the field in Lucas Oil Stadium. Every band ..read more

From marching on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium at Grand Nationals Championships to learning conducting from Koji Mori at the Summer Symposium, Hailey Woock’s journey to music education has been memorable.    As a member of the Lincoln Way High School marching band from New Lenox, IL, Hailey traveled to Bands of America (BOA) Regionals, including the Indianapolis and St. Louis Super Regionals and Grand National Championships. It was at these events that she first saw bands such as Blue Springs High School and Castle High School perform. The added experience of performing with ..read more

Music for All will expand its collaborations with local scholastic performance events with its new Affiliate Marching Band Events, providing more opportunities and access to Music for All educational experiences and feedback. Music for All first partnered with the Power Band Classic Invitational at Lake Hamilton High School in Pearcy, Arkansas in 2019 for the first Affiliate Marching Band Event. Similarly, Music for All’s Affiliate Regional Music Festivals are collaborations between Music for All and outstanding spring band, choir, and orchestra festivals across America. Affiliate Marching ..read more

Behind any successful music program are supportive parents. This Mother’s Day, we highlight an amazing music mom: Karen Boone. Karen is an administrator at Clovis Unified School District and her daughter, Emma Boone, was a participant in Bands of America Grand Nationals, 2017 Bands of America Honor Band in the Tournament of Roses Parade ® , WGI, DCI, and was a drum major with the UCLA Bruin Marching Band. Now, Emma is a high school band  director. Karen has seen her daughter through every season of life and band. With tears in her eyes, Karen explained that the overall band communi ..read more

When Sydney Boulter was two years old, she was diagnosed with severe anxiety. For the next several years, she would not speak outside of her house or outside of her immediate family.   At three years old, Sydney began playing the piano. When she was seven years old, she began playing the violin. At the same time, she was going to various speech pathologists and speech labs to diagnose and improve her mutism. Her parents were worried she would never speak again. No matter how difficult it was to speak, it was never difficult for Sydney to play music. Her favorite quote is “where wo ..read more

Nicolas Gonzalez spent the majority of his formative years in marching band. He joined his high school band during his sophomore year and the rest is history. After getting his undergraduate degree at Indiana University, Nicolas was a marketing intern at Music for All, an internship that ignited a passion for the organization that continues to this day.   Currently, Nicolas works as a Community engagement and Education manager at the Stamford Symphony Orchestra in Stamford, Connecticut. Outside of creating educational concerts and programs for kids, Nicolas also works with several ..read more