I travelled this April to attend the Virginia International Tattoo in Norfolk, Virginia. This is an amazing one-of-a-kind event but what impressed me most is the educational value for school music groups.
First, a disclaimer. I was the Music Director of the tattoo for the first six years of its existence. Now, decades later I wanted to see how it had evolved.
For those who are wondering about an event called a tattoo, it’s a tradition going back centuries and describes a huge pageant involving music groups, including military ensembles, and other entertainment groups such as dance troupes, choirs, and of course bagpipers!
Its origin came from the seventeenth century when troops were stationed in Holland. Each evening, the local garrison commander would send sergeants and drummers through the town shouting “Doe den taptoe,” or “turn off the taps.” They would then lead a “parade” of inebriated troops back to their barracks.
Today’s tattoos are held all over the world and many feature world class ensembles performing for packed audiences for weeks. The most famous of these is the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo held annually in August in Scotland.
The Virginia International Tattoo is just one of many events presented each year by the Virginia Arts Festival which is celebrating its 29th Anniversary in 2026. The largest performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia, the Virginia Arts Festival has transformed the region’s cultural scene, presenting great performers from around the world and making this historic region a cultural destination for visitors from across the United States and around the world. In 2025, the Festival welcomed visitors from 45 states, the District of Columbia, and 9 foreign countries. Each season, the Festival presents over 250 performances, including free community events, student matinees, and workshops, with an annual attendance of over 110,000. Millions more are reached through international broadcasts of Festival performances on American Public Radio’s Performance Today and nationally on PBS TV.
In addition to being the home of the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Fleet, Hampton Roads (the region including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Williamsburg, and several other municipalities) is home to a NATO headquarters. Since its inception, the tattoo has had a close partnership with NATO that resulted in their hosting several foreign military bands for the tattoo each year.
Having been part of the tattoo cast years ago, I can share that our favorite performances were matinees for school groups. You have not experienced excitement until you’ve been in an arena with thousands of screaming kids! In 2026, there were three of these student matinees for a total audience of nearly 15,000. There were a total of 88 school groups in attendance from numerous states.
I’ll share a bit more about this year’s performance later, but want to focus on the educational value of the tattoo and its surrounding events. For over 25 years, the arts festival has worked with Performing Arts Consultants to craft customized experiences for visiting student groups.
Student tickets for many festival performances start at just $10 and often include on-site bus parking, meet-and-greets, and pre-performance opportunities.The Festival offers customized educational experiences for choirs, bands, ensembles, and dance groups, such as:
- Masterclasses and workshops led by touring professionals
- Discussions with artists, directors, and producers
- Behind-the-scenes immersive learning experiences
World-class dance companies are featured every year – recent partners include Dance Theatre of Harlem, American Ballet Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – each providing training opportunities, workshops, and student-focused events.
Groups attending the Tattoo can perform at great venues like Chrysler Hall, home of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, march in the Parade of Nations (this is a great parade, BTW), and tour historic sites such as the U.S.S. Wisconsin battleship and Colonial Williamsburg.
I can’t think of any other event that offers so much educational value. There are lots of school tours that include an adjudicated performance (often in a high school) and a visit to an amusement park. The unique thing offered in Virginia is an adjudicated performance in a world-class venue AND the opportunity to hear and see bands, choirs, and dance groups of the very highest quality from around the world, AND march in a parade alongside these same groups AND participate in NATO Fest with representatives from dozens of countries.
The 2026 Virginia International Tattoo honored 250 years of American independence. More than 800 performers from around the world took the stage, including massed pipes and drums, great military bands, precision drill teams, dancers, choirs and more. Through stirring music, historic imagery, and moving tributes, the 2026 Virginia International Tattoo celebrated the enduring promise of freedom that defines our nation. This was more than a performance — it was a celebration of America’s spirit, 250 years in the making.
I have directed and performed in dozens of tattoos all around the world, and in my opinion, this is the absolute best of the tattoos held indoors. My top two of those held outdoors are the Basel (Switzerland) Tattoo and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
The pacing of the show led by Producer Scott Jackson is flawless, and the production values (sound, lighting, etc. are terrific.
Each year, the cast features some of the best acts in the world. I have performed in a tattoo with the premier band of the French Navy and they are fantastic. The Korean Army Band and a troupe of amazing singers and dancers held the audience spellbound and performed traditional music and tunes from BTS. The U.S. military groups were top-notch per usual and The Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps had a great scene. Here’s the list of the entire cast:
Musique de la Marine Nationale (National Band of the French Navy), Republic of Korea Army Military Band and Honor Guard Battalion, Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums, U.S Air Force Heritage of America Band, U.S Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, U.S. Marine Corps 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band, U.S. Navy Fleet Forces Band, Virginia International Tattoo Highland Dancers, Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Kilgore College Rangerettes, Old Dominion University Concert Choir, Rhodes Academy of Irish Dance Lee Keum-yong Sagang Dance Company of Chungnam National University, King’s Color Squadron of the Royal Air Force, and the Rhythm Project.
Next year’s tattoo will be held April 22-25, 2027. For more info about Student Groups, go to: https://vafest.org/your-visit/groups/student-groups/ .
To plan your trip, contact Performing Arts Consultants at Mike@USAfest.org, www.USAfest.org or Dr. Mike Mazzarisi at (732) 670-6114.
You may also like:
SBO Presents The 19th Annual 50 Directors Who Make A Difference
Virginia Arts Festival’s 2021 Virginia International Tattoo Set for June 3-6 at New Outdoor Venue
Virginia Arts Festival’s 2021 Virginia International Tattoo Set for June 3-6 at New Outdoor Venue
The 22nd Annual 50 Directors Who Make a Difference
2012 ’50 Directors Who Make a Difference’ Report
