ABOUT
“The President’s Cup” Concert Band Festival
is an invitation only, adjudicated festival for high school concert bands and wind ensembles. The most accomplished high school music programs will be invited to spend a day with retired and active duty military musicians.
The festival is designed to challenge high school ensembles to understand their full potential and to emphasize the dedication and hard work it takes to be their best. “The President’s Cup” will represent the values of hard work, superb performance, and teamwork exemplified by America’s men and women in uniform.
Each concert band will have the opportunity to perform on-stage at the beautiful Hylton Performing Arts Center in Historic Manassas, Virginia. Following their festival performance, bands will receive a clinic and instruction by our excellent panel of clinicians and adjudicators. To round out the musical instruction, clinicians will provide master classes by instrument.
The festival day will conclude with a feature concert by The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.”*
For those who wish to watch the band's perform, President's Cup festival is free and open to the public.
Evening Concert by The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own"
Providing a musical backdrop for many of the nation’s most notable events, The U.S. Army Concert Band has a worldwide reputation for extraordinary musicianship.
Headquartered in Washington, DC, The U.S. Army Concert Band has performed in concert venues such as Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Hollywood Bowl--connecting the Army with the American people. The ensemble participates in ongoing, educational outreach and often appears at national and international music events, including the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Music Educators National Convention, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and the American Bandmasters Association.
During the summer months, the Concert Band performs outdoor concerts on the West Steps of the U.S. Capitol and at venues throughout the Washington, DC, area. Regular concerts are offered during the cooler months at The United States Army Band’s home, Brucker Hall, located on historic Fort Myer, in Arlington, Virginia.
In an effort to promote international goodwill, the 65-piece, traditional concert band has performed joint concerts with the Soviet Army, the Russian Navy, and the Ukrainian Navy bands, and has appeared in military tattoos in Scotland, Sweden, Holland, Norway, Australia, and Japan. The Concert Band’s 2011 and 2012 goodwill exchange concert tours with the Military Band of the PLA of China, entitled Friendship and Cooperation Through Music, is indicative of the importance these musical ambassadors play in matters of international diplomacy and outreach.
The Soldiers in this ensemble have been trained at some of the most prestigious music conservatories and universities in the country. Displaying their versatility, the Concert Band members perform a variety of styles, ranging from classical to popular. The communicative power of The U.S. Army Concert Band is greatly enhanced when combined with other musical elements of “Pershing’s Own.”
The United States Army Band Concert is free and open to the public.
"It was a fantastic event ran by the most professional and courteous staff I have had the pleasure of working with. The entire event has a touch of class that far exceeds that of other festivals our band has attended."
Thank you for organizing such a unique event.
Vance Brakefield
LOCATION
Washington, DC
Washington DC is not only the capital of the United States of America but also the center of American history, education, and the performing arts. Your visit to Washington, DC will educate and inspire you to achieve the highest levels of educational excellence. Whether it’s an illuminated night tour among the nation’s most majestic monuments and memorials or stepping into the halls of congress, your visit to Washington, DC will create memories that will last a lifetime.
VENUE
Hylton Performing Arts Center entertains, educates, and enriches the Northern Virginia community by providing diverse and accessible arts experiences in state-of-the art venues.
Merchant Hall is an elegantly styled opera house with a 100 foot stage and orchestra pit. Its clever design provides every audience member an intimate experience and the perfect setting for a variety of genres - symphonies, dance, opera and theater – everything from bluegrass to Beethoven!
PRODUCER
Forte Productions of Sound Education Programs
Forte Productions by Sound Education Programs provides world-class and purpose driven productions in the world's most prestigious concert venues. Unlike anything else available for a student musician, Forte productions has been delivering music education experiential learning to the rising generation in a way that is both truly meaningful and educationally unsurpassed. Music transcends language barriers. It unites people of various backgrounds, cultures and ideals in a remarkable way. Thousands of people have joined with us in locations around the world to commemorate the past and celebrate the future with music and culture while saluting those people, places and ideals that have both inspired and united people for generations.