MARCH 11–14, 2027 · CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Send Our Band to the Percy Grainger Invitational

An Invitation of a Lifetime

Each year the Percy Grainger Invitational gathers a small, hand-selected group of top high school wind ensembles from across the country to perform for, learn from, and be coached by some of the most respected conductors and composers in the world of wind band music.

Being invited is a rare honor. It places our students alongside the best young musicians in the nation, gives them a world-class performance experience, and represents Asheville High School and our entire community on a national stage.

Donate to the Trip

The Trip

Dates: March 11–14, 2027 (3 nights / 4 days)

Destination: Chicago, Illinois

Who's going: More than 100 Asheville High School band students from across our ensembles, plus directors and chaperones.

The centerpiece: Our students will perform their festival concert on the stage of Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center — one of the most storied concert halls in America and the home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

"The Percy Grainger Invitational is the kind of experience students carry with them for the rest of their lives. We are honored to be invited, and we intend to show up and shine."
— Rodney Workman, Director of Bands

The Experience

Over four days in Chicago, our students will:

Perform their Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival concert in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center.
Take part in a clinic with Dr. Mallory Thompson, Director of Bands Emeritus at Northwestern University and one of the most respected wind-band conductors in the country.
Enjoy a panoramic tour of Chicago — Millennium Park, Cloud Gate ("The Bean"), the Riverwalk, the Water Tower, and more.
Choose an educational museum excursion (admission included): the Museum of Science and Industry, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, or the Field Museum of Natural History.
Attend a Broadway/theater show ($70 credit included) and enjoy free time at Navy Pier.
Stay at the historic Palmer House Hilton in the heart of downtown Chicago.

Itinerary

Depart: Thursday, March 11, 5:00 AM from Asheville High School, 419 McDowell St., Asheville
Return: Sunday, March 14, arriving about 11:00 PM at Asheville High School

Hotel: Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe St., Chicago, IL 60603 · 312-726-7500

Travel is by chartered motorcoach, about 12 hours each way, with breaks and meals on the way (on your own).

PARENTS PLEASE NOTE: If you are planning to travel to Chicago for the performance, all accommodations and tickets need to be purchased separately from the band. All band logistics are booked directly by the tour company. You are welcome to book your own tickets separately for activities in parallel to the band, and Saturday's performance is open to the public. Chaperones are not needed for activities in Chicago, and the itinerary is still in development with the tour company and band festival organizers. We will update families as plans are confirmed.

Day 1 · Thursday, March 11

5:00 AM: Depart Asheville for Chicago.
5:00 PM: Arrive in Chicago and meet your Tour Manager, who stays with the group every day.
Panoramic tour of Chicago: the Fine Arts Building, McCormick Place, Millennium Park, Cloud Gate ("The Bean"), Crown Fountain, Lurie Garden, the Chicago Picasso, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Soldier Field, the Water Tower, the Riverwalk, and the United Center.
Check in to the hotel.
Dinner at Gino's East, then back to the hotel for the night.

Day 2 · Friday, March 12

Breakfast.
Educational museum excursion with admission (families choose one).
Lunch on your own.
Wind Symphony clinic with Dr. Mallory Thompson, Director of Bands Emeritus at Northwestern University.
Dinner at Ed Debevic's.
Broadway/theater show ($70 credit included), then back to the hotel.

Day 3 · Saturday, March 13 · Concert day

Breakfast.
Morning sound check and rehearsal in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center.
Walking tour of Millennium Park.
Lunch on your own.
Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival performance in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Free time at the Navy Pier attractions, then back to the hotel.

Day 4 · Sunday, March 14

Breakfast and hotel check-out.
Time for last-minute sightseeing, shopping, or more exploring.
Lunch on your own.
11:00 AM: Depart for home.
About 11:00 PM: Arrive at Asheville High School.

This is a flexible itinerary from our tour operator, Music Celebrations International. Except for confirmed appointments and performances, places and the order of sightseeing may change. If the concert and sightseeing schedules conflict, the concert comes first.

What the Trip Includes

Each traveling student's package covers round-trip deluxe motorcoach transportation from Asheville; three nights at the Palmer House Hilton; two meals a day (breakfast and dinner); a full-time professional tour manager; all festival registration, arrangements, and percussion; museum admission and a Broadway show credit; a souvenir festival t-shirt; professional audio, video, and photography of the performance; gratuities and taxes; and $3 million in tour liability coverage.

Not included: daily lunches, instrument rental, and optional activities.

For Traveling Families

Trip payments are made in monthly installments through your family account. Every student's plan and balance is a little different, so log in to see yours.

Set up or manage your payment plan anytime under My Account → Forms.

Set Up / Manage Trip Payments

Travel protection (optional): Optional travel insurance, including Cancel For Any Reason coverage, is available through our tour operator. It must be purchased within 21 days of your first per-person payment. Learn more or purchase →

Questions about payments or the trip? Contact the treasurer at treasurer@ashevillehighbands.com.

Help Us Reach Our Goal

Traveling more than 100 band students across the country is expensive — charter transportation, lodging, meals, festival registration, and equipment transport all add up. We're raising $25,000 in community support so that cost is never the reason a student can't go.

How You Can Help

Every contribution — from $10 to $10,000 — helps a student play in Chicago. Donations to the Asheville High School Band Association are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Donate Online

Donate by mail

Make checks payable to Asheville High School Band Association and mail to:

Asheville High School Band Association
PO Box 772
Asheville, NC 28803

Please write "Chicago – Percy Grainger Trip" in the memo line.

Share the campaign

Not in a position to give right now? Share this page with friends, family, alumni, and local businesses who support music education. Word of mouth is one of our most powerful fundraising tools.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes. The Asheville High School Band Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. You'll receive a receipt for your records.

Can I sponsor a specific student?

Donations go into a general trip fund that supports all traveling students. If you'd like to support a specific student directly, please contact us at treasurer@ashevillehighbands.com.

What exactly does my donation pay for?

Charter bus, hotel lodging, group meals, festival registration fees, equipment transport (including percussion and large instruments), and on-site logistics for the group.

What happens if the trip doesn't reach its goal?

We are committed to sending our students to Chicago. Shortfalls are covered by the Band Association's general fund, which limits what we can do for future programming. Reaching our goal means our students travel and the program stays strong next year.