Partnership with NFHS Announced

INDIANAPOLIS, IN ( 5/2/2024 ) — The NFHS has announced a three-year corporate partnership with USBands as a founding member of the NFHS Performing Arts Corporate Partner Program. USBands is the largest scholastic music service organization in the nation, committed to the service of educators in the areas of development and growth of music programs, excellence of adjudication, elevation of live events, and enhancement of students’ experiences. 

Through the new partnership, USBands will be working closely with the NFHS on several initiatives including marching band standards and adjudicator training, performer safety, health and wellness guidelines and future growth strategies for scholastic music participation. Since 1988, USBands has been committed to providing opportunities for ensembles of all styles, sizes, and experience levels to ensure every ensemble benefits from participation and is acknowledged for accomplishments commensurate with their level of achievement. 

 “The NFHS welcomes USBands to its Performing Arts Corporate Partner Program and looks forward to a long partnership growing school music programs and opportunities for music students nationwide,” NFHS CEO Dr. Karissa Niehoff said. “With a focus on risk minimization, health and wellness within marching bands, the two organizations share a philosophy that will mutually benefit both.”

Collaboration included USBands Executive Director Sean King appearing on a recent episode of the NFHS performing arts podcast, The Stage. 

“The goal for USBands is to meet music programs where they are developmentally, creatively and geographically,” King said. “The new alliance with the NFHS will provide USBands with a platform to engage in the development of music programs across the country in support of both organizations’ missions. The USBands approach of consistent and actionable assessment at user- friendly events is in alignment with the goals of the NFHS and creates a strong foundation for our future collaboration. We view our role, alongside the NFHS, to serve the music education community with qualified adjudicators providing the commentary they seek as they take their program to the next level for their school and their community. This new partnership allows us to work hand-in-hand with the leaders in the scholastic performing arts activity as we create innovative opportunities for music education nationwide.” 

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About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,500 high schools and 12 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.8 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. 

About USBands USBands is the largest scholastic music service organization in the nation serving over 800 music programs annually. USBands is the lead organization in a national pageantry arts network serving all aspects of the scholastic music activity including marching band, concert band,color guard and indoor percussion with 200 annual events being held from coast to coast alongside partners including the 21-time World Champion Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps, the Western Band Association and Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network. Additionally, USBands offers professional development for music educators along with leadership clinics, and higher education resources to ensure students participating within performing arts have an elevated high school experience. USBands is proudly sponsored by Conn Selmer with Ludwig Musser serving as Presenting Sponsors of the USBands organization.