All American Band | D-Day Parade

All-American D-Day Band

Normandy & Paris

June 6

You could be one of the high school musicians selected from across our nation to be members of the All-American D-Day Band. Join Col. Timothy J. Holtan, music director, and the superb band staff, and be a part of the premier band for D-Day events in the Normandy region. As musical ambassadors to France, the All-American D-Day Band will perform the ceremonial music for the officially recognized commemoration and wreath laying ceremonies at the Brittany and Normandy American Cemeteries and Memorials. In the historic village of Sainte-Mère-Église the band will perform in the International Salute to Liberation and lead the D-Day Memorial Parade.

Director nominations are the first step, which triggers the invitation to complete a student application.

This unique and prestigious opportunity is open to all United States high school students who meet the selection criteria, are nominated by their band directors, and are selected by video audition. The All-American D-Day Band experience will provide a once-in-a-life-time musical and educational experience, and give these All-Americans the opportunity to represent their country in these important D-Day ceremonies and events.

2 nights in DC
4 nights in Normandy
3 nights in Paris
Performance at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC
Performances at the American Cemetery in Brittany, in Sainte-Mère-Église, and at the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach
Feature Performances in Paris
Tours of le Mont St. Michel, Omaha Beach, Point du Hoc, Louvre Museum, and the city of Paris

On June 6th, 1944, thousands of young men landed on the shores of Normandy, France, to launch the largest amphibious assault in world history. D-Day was the driving force behind the allied liberation of France and the beginning of the end of the Nazi tyranny that had engulfed Europe. Historic Programs is proud to be the producer of numerous officially recognized D-Day Commemoration Ceremonies and events each year in Normandy, France, and is pleased to offer this opportunity for our nation’s best high school musicians. The All-American D-Day Band will be uniformed courtesy of DeMoulin Bros. and Company, and Jupiter, Majestic and Mapex instruments are furnished by KHS America.

Additional details:

The All-American D-Day Band is open to the following instrumentation parade:

Flutes/Piccolo
Oboe (march alternate instrument)
Bb Clarinet
Bass Clarinet (march Bb clarinet)
Bassoon (march alternate instrument)
Saxophone (alto, tenor, and baritone)
Trumpet
Horn
Trombone
Euphonium
Sousaphone
Percussion (marching snare, tenor drums, bass and cymbals)

Additional Inclusions:

Custom music arrangements
Round trip airfare from Washington to Paris

Download 2025 Schedule, Pricing & Inclusions

Timothy J. Holtan, Col., US Army, Retired

Director

Col. Timothy J. Holtan retired in 2017 as the senior military musician in the Department of Defense. Col. Holtan’s final command was as the 10th Leader and Commander of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” He holds the distinction of being the only officer to command all three of the Army’s premier bands, which also include the U.S. Army Field Band and the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point.

Col. Holtan is a graduate of Bismarck (ND) High School, is a former school music educator, holds music education degrees from Montana State University and the University of Montana, and pursued doctoral studies at the University of North Texas. A clinician for Conn-Selmer and Artistic Director of the Maryland Winds, a professional concert band, he is a strong advocate for music education, and is in demand as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator. Col. Holtan has presented concerts and clinics in all 50 states, Canada, Japan, the U.S. Virgin Islands and across Europe.

Col. Holtan’s ensembles have been seen on many nationally televised broadcasts and diverse stages such as the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, DAR Constitution Hall, Mormon Tabernacle, Myerson Symphony Center, and Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, as well as for the 2017 Presidential Inaugural Concert at the Lincoln Memorial. Under his leadership and after a 44-year absence, the West Point Band reestablished a partnership with the New York Philharmonic, which resulted in five Lincoln Center joint concert performances. Col. Holtan also led the West Point Band in the Emmy-nominated “Marina at West Point” PBS production that has reached over 180 million viewers.

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