“Excited doesn’t even begin to describe it—for our students, this is truly the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Steve Kauffman, director of bands at Fostoria City Schools in Ohio. Kauffman is referring to a very special upcoming performance he has planned for his marching band—the halftime show finale at the 2024 AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN. Kauffman will be bringing 56 of his musicians to perform in the mass band halftime show alongside more than 500 performers, plus they’ll march in the Beale Street Parade and compete in a field show while in town. Kauffman has brought Fostoria students to this performance before, and there’s a reason he’s choosing to do it again. Whether the thought of performing at a college bowl game as a high school marching band is new to you or you’ve even participated in one yourself, you may not realize just what goes on behind the scenes.
“It’s Friday Night Lights times 100. It’s as close to a professional-level performance as many band kids will ever get. It really makes the kids feel like rockstars,“ said Marina Grant, who manages a team of former band directors and self-proclaimed band nerds who are now dedicating their days to finding talented school-aged bands across the country to fill college bowl game halftime shows. Grant is part of WorldStrides, an organization that’s focused on providing experiential-learning and unique student travel programs for the last 55 years.
Grant goes on to tell us about WorldStrides’ nearly 30-year exclusive partnership with the Liberty Bowl, which is one of seven exclusive relationships WorldStrides holds with notable bowl game and national parade partners. “A lot of the band directors I’ve talked to had no idea at first what goes on behind the scenes to put together this caliber of production,” Grant said. “From music selection and coordination with live musical guests, dancers, and color guard to props and even pyrotechnics—WorldStrides is coordinating the full production with each bowl game partner. I know ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ seems cliché but there’s no better way to describe it. When the kids walk out onto that field, I love to look at their faces. Confident or reserved, freshman or senior—they all walk away different.”
This commitment to creating a one-of-a-kind experience for young marching bands is evident in the partnerships WorldStrides has created. Steve Ehrhart, long-time executive director of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl said, “Both my sister and brother-in-law were long-time band directors, so we understand how important this band trip is to these young students. We go out of our way to make the trip to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl a great experience.”
It’s clear from all involved, the experience is bigger than a traditional trip. In just a few short months, Kauffman’s band students will take the 10+ hour bus ride down to Memphis for what’s sure to be a truly memorable trip. Kauffman remarks, “This experience is about so much more than football or marching band – most of our students don’t get many opportunities to travel, so providing them with a look at another region of the country and all the history from that area can open their eyes to what is possible for them as they grow into adults. Our remarkable band members have put in the work, and now they’re ready to put on an impressive show at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.”
From national adjudicated festivals and elite performances at famed venues like Carnegie Hall to bowl game halftime shows and performing tours around the globe—WorldStrides Performing Arts supports thousands of performing ensembles annually with unique, educational, and fun travel programs. Our team of passionate former music educators and travel enthusiasts is eager to work with you to make your dreams a reality.
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