After a 13-year absence, the John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band was revived in June 2018 and rehearsed in Boxborough, Massachusetts, culminating with a performance in historic Faneuil Hall, Boston.
It was comprised of 109 high school student musicians representing 24 states and the District of Columbia, and was conducted by Col. Jason K. Fettig, Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band of Washington, D.C. Sponsored by The Sousa Foundation, the band was formed in 1981 and met biannually for over 20 years under the direction of Col. John R. Bourgeois, himself a former conductor of the United States Marine Band under several presidents.
The members of the Board of Directors of The Sousa Foundation are pleased to be able to offer the event once again in 2020. Students in grades 9 – 12 as of September 2019 from all 50 states and territories of the United States of America are invited to audition for this honor band.
Under the able direction of Michael J. Colburn, director of the Wind Ensemble at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana and also a former director of the United States Marine Band of Washington, D.C., the 14th biennial John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band will take place from June 24-27, 2020. Rehearsals will be held at The Bromfield School in Harvard, Massachusetts with a concert at historic Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts, site of 25 performances of the original Sousa Band. Audition music will be released on September 10 and audition submissions will be open on October 10. Auditions will be accepted until January 1, 2020. For more information, please visit the website.
Photo by Piper Jo Nevins.
