Celebration of Bands

Event Dates: November 23-26, 2025

Event Registration Contact:

• Melanie Chaney : mchaney@varsity.com

Clinicians: 

Tim Sexton 

Dr. Timothy S. Sexton is an advocate for positive and energetic music education, both in the classroom and in the marching arts. Originally from Hokes Bluff, Alabama, Dr. Sexton serves as the Associate Director of Bands for the Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory for the Arts. Prior to moving west of Tampa, he completed his doctorate and served as a graduate teaching assistant for Dr. Jared Rawlings at The University of Utah.  Dr. Sexton has proudly been affiliated with successful groups within the pageantry arts for over a decade. Most recently, Tim tours as a lead brass instructor with Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps of Canton, Ohio. As a professional performer, Tim has traveled internationally as a cast member, swing performer, and soloist with Blast! Brass Theater. Dr. Sexton received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting with a secondary focus in Music Education from The University of Utah. Tim completed a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from Boise State University, and he acquired a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education with a focus on Instrumental Pedagogy from Jacksonville State University (AL). Tim’s professional affiliations are as follows: Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, International Trumpet Guild, FMEA, FBA, PCMEA, and NAfME. 

Tim lives west of Tampa, Florida with his wife, Dr. Amy J. Bovin.  

Ryan Luis 

Originally from California, Ryan Luis is a passionate musician and educator currently residing in Gallatin, TN. His musical journey began with the Concord Blue Devils, where he marched in the C Corps from 2009 to 2012, followed by the B Corps from 2013 to 2015, 2017, and the World Class ensemble in 2018 and 2019. In addition to his performance experience, Ryan has shared his love for music by teaching at Monte Vista High School in Danville, CA, and at Independence High School in Thompson Station, TN, from 2018 to 2024. He played a pivotal role in helping Independence achieve the Game Day Live National Championship three times from 2021 to 2023. 

 CJ McCrory 

CJ McCrory is a clinician, consultant, educator, and designer for the Marching Arts activity residing in Knoxville, TN. Locally, he is the Color Guard Coordinator for the University of Tennessee’s Pride of the Southland Marching Band, the Director of Color Guards for Hardin Valley Academy and Hardin Valley Middle School programs, as well as serving as Board President for the East Tennessee Performing Arts Association. Expanding out of Tennessee, CJ is also currently involved with multiple groups across the Nation in these various roles. His goals within the activity are to spread his love and passion for the Marching Arts, and assist in creating the next generation of educators. CJ’s past Color Guard marching experiences have included The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, Pride of Cincinnati (IW), and Eklipse Winterguard (IW), as well as marching mellophone with the Pride of the Southland Marching band. In his teaching experience, CJ has been privileged with the opportunity to work with Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Artistry in Blue (IA), Beau Monde Independent (IA), Lexis Winterguard (IW), Carmel HS (SW), and Avon HS (SW). 

🗓️ Event Itinerary:

PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change. A final, more detailed itinerary will be emailed to all registered attendees closer to the event date.  

There is limited capacity for this event. Registration will be taken on a first come, first served basis. Deposits must be paid in order to be confirmed.  

Please see the Walt Disney World Park Reservations section for information about making Park Reservations. 

Sunday, November 23, 2025: ARRIVE in Orlando, Florida! 

• Arrival and Registration at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort 

• Hotel Check-in 

• Mandatory Orientation and Rehearsal 

*When making flight reservations we suggest arriving at Coronado Springs Resort no later than 3:30 PM on Sunday, November 23. If flying, we recommend you land at Orlando International Airport (MCO) by 2:00 PM. You may fly back anytime on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.  

PLEASE NOTE: Travel arrangements to Orlando and airport transfers are NOT INCLUDED in the cost of the performance package. 

Monday, November 24, 2025: Rehearsal and Park Day 

•  After breakfast, students and directors will get a hands-on rehearsal from world-class clinicians to prepare for our parade through Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.  

• The rest of the day will be free to enjoy all the magic of Walt Disney World! 

Tuesday, November 25, 2025: Performance Day! 

• Students and directors will depart Coronado Springs Resort for their performance at Magic Kingdom 

• The rest of the day will be free to enjoy all the magic of Walt Disney World! 

Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Departure Day! 

• Depart home from Orlando 

🏷️ Tour Package Pricing:

Click HERE for pricing

📝 Important Forms:

Athlete Code of Conduct: View

Event Code of Conduct: View

Event Terms and Conditions: View

Athlete and Participant Release Forms: View

✈️ Travel Planning:

Airfare from your hometown to Orlando is not included in the cost of the trip and will be the responsibility of the attendees. 

Walt Disney World no longer operates the Disney Magic Express. Attendees will be responsible for their roundtrip transportation from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) to the resorts. We have partnered with MEARS to provide a guest discount off of transportation to and from the airport! 

CLICK HERE for more MEARS direct connect Information! 

CICK HERE to view travel partners and airline discounts that are available! 

🏰 Walt Disney World® Park Reservations:

To help manage park capacity, the Walt Disney World Resort has introduced the Disney Park Pass service, a new Theme Park reservation system. In order to make your Theme Park reservations, you will need a My Disney Experiences account and valid Theme Park admission linked to it. Varsity Spirit will send you a ticket confirmation number in late August for all customers paid in full. Then, simply create a My Disney Experience account and select the dates and Theme Parks you wish to visit. To enter a Theme Park, both a reservation and valid admission for the same Park on the same date are required. Please note that reservations are limited in capacity, subject to availability and are not guaranteed until confirmed. If the first park you would like to attend reaches capacity, you can make a reservation for another park and then “hop” to your choice after 2PM that day. Park availability is very limited and Varsity Spirit will not be able to assist with park reservations.  

For those spectators and participants on our hotel travel package and those who purchased a Walt Disney World Park Hopper pass from Varsity Spirit, a park reservation for Magic Kingdom will be pre-loaded on to your ticket for the day of your performance. 

IMPORTANT NOTE WHEN PURCHASING THEME PARK TICKETS: The reselling or the transferring of theme park tickets in the state of Florida is a crime as described under Florida state laws; Florida Statutes s. 817.361 and Florida Statutes s. 817.36 

Park Reservation How-To Resources: 

• Booking Park Reservations Step-by-Step 

*Please note that NO changes/upgrades are possible after ticket orders have been placed. And remember, no Disney Park Hopper tickets will be sold on site during registration. 

How to Qualify 

• Step 1: Record your group using the audition requirements below   

• Step 2: Upload your audition videos to the form found below under the Audition Requirements 

That’s it! Good luck and we can’t wait to review your audition! 

Audition Requirements for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 Celebration of Bands  

• Submit 2 audition videos that reflect your school and community.   

• At least one of these videos needs to show a parade style presentation and must be long enough to show a song into cadence and back into the song.   

• The second video may be of a field show.  

• Audition videos do not need to be from formal performances and students do not need to be in uniform. They can be recorded on the school track or parking lot.   

• You do not need to apply with any particular pieces; we are evaluating the talent level of your group.   

• The audition videos need to show the whole band moving and playing. We need to be able to see that the performers are in step.  

• Audition videos should reflect within 15% of the number of performers on your application.  

• All audition videos must be from within the past 12 months.  

Not all bands that audition will be selected to participate. 

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR FULL BAND AUDITION! 

 

How to Qualify 

• Step 1: Record yourself using the audition requirements below   

• Step 2: Upload your audition videos to the form found below under the Audition Requirements 

That’s it! Good luck and we can’t wait to review your audition! 

Audition Requirements for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 Celebration of Bands  

Video Submission: 

Woodwind, Brass, Percussion Video Submission 1 & 2: 

Woodwinds and Brass: 

• Please, select and prepare 2 solos and/or etudes of differing musical content showing us your lyrical and technical abilities. 

• Mellophones may audition on French Horn if they choose. 

• You may play them accompanied or unaccompanied. If unaccompanied, please, skip lengthy rests by pausing and then continuing with the piece. 

Percussion: 

• Please, play the following rudiments slow-fast-slow on the drum of your choice (snare, bass, or quad drum #2): 

• Double Stroke Roll 

• Single Paradiddle 

• Flam Accent 

• Please, play a solo on any percussion instrument showing us your musicality and ability to maintain tempo. 

Woodwind, Brass, Percussion Video Submission 3: 

• ALL: 

• Please demonstrate your marching ability by performing a Box drill at a tempo of 120-144 BPM: 

• Box instructions: Forward 8 > Left 8 > Backward 8 > Right 8 > Forward 8 > Right 8 > Backward 8 > Left 8 > Forward 8 > Halt 

• Woodwinds and Brass: Please hold a concert F on the left and right portions and rest on the forward and backward portions. 

• Percussion: Please play quarter note taps on the left and right portions and rest on the forward and backward portions. 

Guard, Majorette, or Dancers Video Submission 1 and 2: 

• Please submit 2 videos of previous or current work from a show or routine. These videos should be of contrasting styles. 

• Guard Note: The performance will only utilize flag. One video must utilize flag work and the second video may utilize any standard equipment of your choosing (flag, rifle, saber). 

• Majorette Note: The performance will only utilize baton. One video must utilize single baton and the second video may utilize any standard equipment of your choosing (double/triple baton, streamers, knives, etc.) 

• Dancers Note: You may choose any styles you feel confident in. 

Guard, Majorette, or Dancer Video Submission 3: 

• Please submit a video of you marching while doing any type of routine you choose. This video should utilize a glide step, jazz walk, strut style. 

• Instructions: Forward 16 > Hold 4 > Backward 16 > Hold 4 > forward 16 > Halt 

• Tempo: between 120 – 144 BPM 

Once you have completed your videos, post them unlisted on YouTube. 

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR INDIVIDUAL AUDITION! 

Dates: November 22-25, 2026 

Event Itinerary: 

PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change. A final, more detailed itinerary will be emailed to all registered attendees closer to the event date.  

There is limited capacity for this event. Registration will be taken on a first come, first served basis. Deposits must be paid in order to be confirmed.  

Please see the Walt Disney World Park Reservations section for information about making Park Reservations. 

Sunday, November 22, 2026: ARRIVE in Orlando, Florida! 

• Arrival and Registration at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort 

• Hotel Check-in 

• Mandatory Orientation and Rehearsal 

*When making flight reservations we suggest arriving at Coronado Springs Resort no later than 3:30 PM on Sunday, November 22. If flying, we recommend you land at Orlando International Airport (MCO) by 2:00 PM. You may fly back anytime on Wednesday, November 25, 2026.  

PLEASE NOTE: Travel arrangements to Orlando and airport transfers are NOT INCLUDED in the cost of the performance package. 

Monday, November 23, 2026: Rehearsal and Park Day 

•  After breakfast, students and directors will get a hands-on rehearsal from world-class clinicians to prepare for our parade through Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.  

• The rest of the day will be free to enjoy all the magic of Walt Disney World! 

Tuesday, November 24, 2026: Performance Day! 

• Students and directors will depart Coronado Springs Resort for their performance at Magic Kingdom 

• The rest of the day will be free to enjoy all the magic of Walt Disney World! 

Wednesday, November 25, 2026: Departure Day! 

• Depart home from Orlando 

Dates: March 6-9, 2027 

Event Itinerary: 

PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change. A final, more detailed itinerary will be emailed to all registered attendees closer to the event date.  

There is limited capacity for this event. Registration will be taken on a first come, first served basis. Deposits must be paid in order to be confirmed.  

 

Please see the Walt Disney World Park Reservations section for information about making Park Reservations. 

Saturday, March 6, 2027: ARRIVE in Orlando, Florida! 

• Arrival and Registration at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort 

• Hotel Check-in 

• Mandatory Orientation and Rehearsal 

*When making flight reservations we suggest arriving at Coronado Springs Resort no later than 3:30 PM on Saturday, March 6, 2027. If flying, we recommend you land at Orlando International Airport (MCO) by 2:00 PM. You may fly back anytime on Tuesday, March 9, 2027.  

PLEASE NOTE: Travel arrangements to Orlando and airport transfers are NOT INCLUDED in the cost of the performance package. 

Sunday, March 7, 2027: Rehearsal and Park Day 

•  After breakfast, students and directors will get a hands-on rehearsal from world-class clinicians to prepare for our parade through Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.  

• The rest of the day will be free to enjoy all the magic of Walt Disney World! 

Monday, March 8, 2027: Performance Day! 

• Students and directors will depart Coronado Springs Resort for their performance at Magic Kingdom 

• The rest of the day will be free to enjoy all the magic of Walt Disney World! 

Tuesday, March 9, 2027: Departure Day! 

• Depart home from Orlando 

 

Coming Soon!

Click here to learn more about Varsity Spirit Fundrasing Partners.