INDIANAPOLIS – The 33rd Music for All National Festival presented by Yamaha will take place in Indianapolis, March 26-28. One of the largest gatherings of student musicians in America, the festival will fill the city with concerts from 54 ensembles representing 14 states. Both high school and middle school concert bands, orchestras, and percussion ensembles, selected following a rigorous and highly selective audition process, will grace stages across Indianapolis.
Concerts will take place in four locations throughout the city and include:
- Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts, Butler University
- Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler University
- Warren Performing Arts Center
- The Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts
In addition to the 52 scholastic ensembles, two national honor ensembles will come together at this festival. The Honor Band of America will perform at Clowes Memorial Hall and the Jazz Band of America at Schrott Center for the Arts, both Saturday, March 28, at 8 p.m., with students from across the country selected by audition. Summer Camargo, member of the Saturday Night Live house band and Jazz Band of America alumna, will perform with the Jazz Band of America.
“What makes this festival especially meaningful is its spirit of shared learning,” says Dr. James Weaver, CEO and President of Music for All. “Rather than competition, this event emphasizes collaboration, growth, and inspiration. Students perform not only for audiences but for one another, gaining new perspectives, forging friendships across the country, and experiencing the transformative impact of music at the highest level. In doing so, they demonstrate what is possible when communities invest in the arts and when schools prioritize opportunities that nurture both excellence and community.”
Tickets and How to Attend
All scholastic ensemble performances are free and open to the public. All concerts will be live-streamed free; go to festival.musicforall.org during the event to access the live stream.
For a full schedule of Music for All National Festival performing ensembles, locations, and times, please visit festival.musicforall.org.
During the festival weekend, students receive evaluation and feedback after their performance from world-class educators and clinicians. They also participate in music education and life-skills workshops. Students and directors get the opportunity to celebrate with their fellow performers during evening receptions, socials, and banquets.
The Music for All National Festival has a notable economic impact on Indianapolis, with more than 3,000 people attending the multiple-day event that takes place in several downtown hotels and concert halls across the greater Indianapolis area. Music for All is a nonprofit whose programs include the Bands of America Grand National Championships, also held in Indianapolis each November at Lucas Oil Stadium.
