All applicants will be notified of acceptance. A non-refundable application processing fee of $15.00 is required by each participant. Brass and woodwind players must submit an audio recording (cassette or CD). Percussionists, flags and dancers must submit a video audition (VHS or DVD).

Transportation Costs

The per participant cost of $1,389.00 (Quad Occupancy) does not include transportation costs. Travel to/from NYC/NJ is the responsibility of the student. Motor coach transportation while in NYC/NJ is provided. In addition, members will be met at Grand Central Station, Port Authority, or LaGuardia, JFK and Newark airports by an official band staff member for included transfers to/from the host hotel.

Package Plan

The Macy's Great American Marching Band participant package is $1389.00 (Quad Occupancy) per student and includes:

• Band membership with performance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
• Six-nights (6), first-class hotel accommodations at the Hilton Woodcliff Lake located 12 miles from Manhatten  (Quad Occupancy)
• Meals:  Six (6) Breakfasts, Three (3) Lunches, and Five (5) Dinners
• Round-trip chartered motorcoach transportation for all Band rehearsals, including sightseeing/meals and Parade
• Schedule transfers from Penn Station as well as JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Airports on arrival and departure days
• NYC Sightseeing:  ZEPHYR Seaport Liberty Cruise, Elevator/Admission Top of the Rock Observation Deck, and admission to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes
• Thanksgiving Dinner Dance with Favors and DJ
• Student Leadership/Education Session
• Instruction with professional staff
• Souvenir Week-in-Review DVD
• Official Macy's Commemorative Patch and Participant Button
• Use of the official Macy's Great American Marching Band Uniform during the parade
• Macy's Great American Marching Band Souvenir T-Shirt
• Two MUSIC FESTIVALS Baggage/Luggage Tags
• Macy's Great American Marching Band Souvenir Windbreaker,
• Souvenir Lanyard

Schedule Requirements 

All selected participants are required to be at the hotel in New Jersey (outside of NYC) by 9:00 p.m. On Saturday, November 20, 2010.  The first group activity will take place at Sunday's breakfast and continue through Thursday evening. Friday, November 26th is the return home travel day (boxed breakfast at hotel).

2010 Payment Information 

The $1,389.00 per participant fee (quad occupancy) is divided into four installments.
Specific due dates will be included in your acceptance binder.
All payments are non-refundable. Please call for further information

Rooming Information

All selected participants will be housed in quad rooms (four students) with two double beds. Upgrades to triples or doubles are available at an additional charge; however, single occupancy is not permitted for safety reasons. Roommate assignments will be made by the staff of MUSIC FESTIVALS.

Code of Conduct / Student Safety

MUSIC FESTIVALS will provide chaperones and supervisory staff at the hotel and during the official schedule of events to ensure students' well being. Chaperones will conduct bed checks, nightly meetings, and wake-up checks. Chaperone members will include medical professionals who will stay at the hotel and accompany students to all scheduled events and sightseeing. In addition, the host hotel is located outside of NYC and offers interior corridors for safety. Chaperones will not be members of the family and friends package. All selected students will be required by MUSIC FESTIVALS to sign and abide by a code of conduct agreement.  Students' guardians will also be required to sign the code of conduct agreement.

Family and Friends

Since the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an American institution, your family and friends are welcome to watch you march down Broadway. Family and friend accommodations will be available with information included in acceptance packets.

Please note: Accommodations will not be at the host hotel with student members/chaperones and will not include meals or activities with the student participants.

Don't Hesitate to Apply

Being selected to participate in the band is a prestigious opportunity that many in your neighborhood will be glad to support. You and your parents don't have to fund the trip all by yourself. Contact local businesses, music organizations, newspapers, travel agencies, etc., to help sponsor your trip. 

We are now accepting applications for 2010. Selections will be based on written application and on submitted audition DVD/CDs. 

Coordinated by:

P.O. Box 4579
Reading, PA 19606
Phone: (610) 898-1844 / Toll Free: (800) 545-0935
Fax: (610) 898-1850
www.musfestivals.com
email: info@musfestivals.com