Caleb White of Crete High School has been selected to be a member of the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. White will join an elite group of musicians who will perform during halftime of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
"The U.S. Army has a distinguished musical history," said John Myers, Director of Marketing, Army Marketing and Research Group. "The skills and strengths necessary to be a successful band member are mirrored in Army Strong Soldiers. Only the strongest wear the Army colors, which is why we are proud to honor all of our 2013 U.S. Army All-American Band members and congratulate each of them on their selection."
Caleb was one of thousands of band members who were nominated by directors across the United States at the beginning of the calendar year. Once each member had learned of their nomination, they were sent audition materials which had to be submitted in a video format later in the spring.
Caleb not only had to submit an example of his playing ability, but he also had to perform a challenging musical example while demonstrating his marching ability.
"Caleb really dedicated a lot of time and energy into this audition" explained band director Eric Fahrlander. "This is probably the highest individual honor that a high school marching band member can achieve, and it is certainly a first for our school!"
The U.S. Army All-American Marching Band recognizes the top 125 high school senior marching musicians and color guard members from across the country, showcasing their talents during the largest celebration of high school football in America, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The event will be televised live on NBC at 1:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, January 5.
For more than 12 years, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl has been the nation's premier high school football game, serving as the preeminent launching pad for America's future college and NFL stars. The 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl drew a crowd of 39,011 to the Alamodome, and was the most-watched sporting event on television over the weekend, excluding the NFL playoffs.
A formal presentation will be made by the US Army at 1 p.m., on Tuesday October 23rd in the high school auditorium.
