The National Music Festival & Parade
at the Military Bowl

Perform for thousands in the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for the

Highlights Include

  • Halftime Performance at the Bowl Game
  • Performance of the National Anthem for the Military Bowl Pre-Game Show
  • March in the Military Bowl Parade
  • Optional performance in the Field Show / Marching Band Competition
  • Optional performance for Concert and Jazz Bands in a National Music Festival with Clinic from nationally recognized adjudicators
  • Ticket to the Military Bowl Game
  • Awards Ceremony with banquet and dance 
  • Three night accommodations in first class hotels

Proposed Day-By-Day Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Washington D.C. and meet your Box 5 Events host to check in.Arrive in Atlanta and meet your Box 5 Events host to check in.

Enjoy free time, and in the evening, meet for the Directors and Clinicians ReceptionIn the evening, meet at the Renaissance Concourse Hotel for the Directors and Clinicians Reception

Day 2

Concert Band and Jazz Band Competition

Participate in the Mass Band Wreath laying Ceremony

Free Time in the afternoon

Guided Monument Tour of Washington D.C. in the evening.

Day 3

Marching Band / Field Show Competition

Mass Band Rehearsal

Time to explore the Smithsonian Museums

Awards Ceremony Banquet, Dinner and Dance

Day 4 – Game Day

Military Bowl Parade

Massed Band Performance of Star Spangled Banner

Kick-off Nationally Televised Military Bowl Game

Halftime Show Performance

Have additional time on your trip plans? Contact us to learn about extending your stay in Washington D.C.

Choose from the many optional activities carefully selected by Box 5 Events from the United States Capital Visitor Center and The Smithsonian Museum, to the National Mall, Arlington National Cemetery and Dave & Busters. With Box 5 Events, we have priority scheduling and pricing.

Box 5 Events has secured adept guides to help you navigate your experience in our Nation’s Capital.  Allowing us to schedule these activities for you can save time and money.    

National Military Bowl Awards Ceremony

Banquet, Dinner & Dance
DSI

Box 5 Events would like to thank DSI for their partnership in supplying the matching flags for the Mass Band Performance

Military Bowl Mass Band Directors

Co-Massed Band Director

Joseph Hermann

Joseph Hermann is Director of Bands Emeritus at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee

Joseph Hermann served for 28 years as Director of Bands at Tennessee Technological University. Under his leadership the Tennessee Tech Bands grew to a level of national prominence, over 25 new pieces were premiered, and the wind and percussion program became an influential force for bands in the Southeast.

Before his appointment at Tennessee Tech in 1989, Hermann was a director at the University of Arizona, Indiana University, and East Tennessee State University. His secondary school teaching includes directing the Dowling High School Band, West Des Moines, Iowa, and supervising the Des Moines Catholic Instrumental Music Program. Under his leadership, the school music program grew to unprecedented enrollment. In addition, he served briefly as the Educational Director for Bands of America and McCormick’s Enterprises, a music corporation, in Chicago, Illinois.

Hermann is sought after as a conductor, adjudicator, and speaker and has presented clinics, workshops, and has conducted in over thirty states, in Canada, and throughout Japan. His symphonic bands have been featured ensembles at state, regional and national conventions; his interpretations have been broadcast on National Public Radio, and recordings of his ensembles have been issued as reference for music educators nationwide through music publishers and on commercial labels.

Co-Massed Band Director

Dr. Anthony Pursell

Dr. Anthony Pursell is Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Central Missouri. Dr. Pursell directs the Marching Band, conducts the UCM Wind Ensemble and Chamber Winds, and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting and music education.  Prior to joining the UCM faculty in 2017, he was Director of Bands at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas (2010-2017) and the Associate Director of Bands at Kansas State University (2005-2010).

Dr. Pursell’s professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, the Missouri Bandmasters Association, Missouri Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Phi Beta Mu.  He has honorary memberships in Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.  In 2012 he was named as a contributing editor for The instrumentalist Magazine.  He earned his Doctor of Arts degree in instrumental conducting from Ball State University and the Master and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Loyola University in New Orleans.

Co-Massed Band Director

Major James D. Foley, USMC

Director and Commanding Officer
“The Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps

Major James ‘Axel’ Foley enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004. Following graduation from Marine Corps Recruit Training he reported to Marine Barracks Washington, DC for duty with “The Commandant’s Own” in 2005 as a Soprano Bugler.

As an enlisted Marine he served in the Lead Soprano and Mellophone Bugle sections, rendered funeral honors as a Bugler at Arlington National Cemetery, was highlighted as a Featured Soloist, and performed solo ceremonies as a Ceremonial Bugler. In addition to his responsibilities as a musician he assumed collateral duties including Marching Drill Designer and Instructor, Section Leader, Chief Music Librarian, Ceremonial Field Crew Director, and Administrative Chief. He was twice selected as the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps’ representative to the Marine Corps Non-Commissioned Officer Musician of the Year Board. In 2009 he was chosen through a competitive board to fill an officer vacancy in the unit and was appointed a Warrant Officer by the President in March of 2010. He served as the unit’s Operations Officer and Assistant Director from 2010-2014. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in December 2014, becoming the Company Executive Officer. He assumed duties as the sixth Director and the Commanding Officer of the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps in July 2018 and his promotion to rank of Major was confirmed by the Senate in December 2018. Through his career the Drum & Bugle Corps has performed for countless military and civilian audiences around the country and abroad, including high profile dignitaries and heads of state.

Major Foley is a graduate of both the Sergeant and Staff Non-Commissioned Officer’s Courses and graduated from The Warrant Officer Basic Course at The Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, where he placed on the Commanding General’s Honor Roll in the top 5% of his class. His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star (second award) and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.

Major Foley initiated his undergraduate studies in Music at Mercer University then transferred to the Universities of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Platteville. Major Foley graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Music (Business/Arts Administration) from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville in 2002.  While on active duty, he earned a Master of Music Degree in Conducting, studying with Prof. Mark Camphouse, from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, in 2010.

An advocate of all types and styles of musical performance, Major Foley was a performing member of the 1997-1998 Magic of Orlando, 1999-2001 Madison Scouts, and the 2002 Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. Additionally, he was member of the Washington, DC, acapella group Vox Populi and has performed in several musical theater productions, both on stage and in the orchestra pit. He is an alumni member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Men’s Music Fraternity. Major Foley is active as a clinician, arranger, and guest performer.

Music Directors! Now is the time to plan your next big music adventure.

  • Box 5 Events is the most organized event tour company that I have had the privilege of working with. They do more than just cross the "t's" and dot the "i's"! Box 5 Events knows how to take care of the directors and their staff.

    Joe G
  • The Box 5 staff is amazing to work with! Joe and his crew make things so easy and in doing so make the life of the band director easy. I would recommend Box 5 to anyone and look forward to our next experience with them in the future.

    Rodney B.
  • Our trip to participate in the Peach Bowl Band Festival was a highlight of the year for our students. It was by far the best trip we have been on as a department. I often watch the aura of my students while on trips. In the case of our Peach Bowl trip, our students were engaged and active throughout the duration of the trip. This spoke to me (as a director) that my students were enjoying the experience rather than being bored or frustrated.

    Seth J
  • When looking for a high-quality, personalized event that will transform your band program, regardless of size, look to Box 5 Events for all your performance travel needs; they go above and beyond and offer first-class experiences that will elevate your music program to the next level.

    Jon L.
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    Andy B
  • Box 5 is an extremely organized event company. Their staff is professional and great to work with. Our experience at the Peach Bowl was priceless and Box 5 was a huge part of making that happen for our families.
    THANK YOU BOX 5!!!

    Andy D