YAMAHA SPONSORS U.S. SCHOLASTIC BAND ASSOCIATION
–Young Performers "Presented by Yamaha" Will Sport Yamaha Brass Instruments–

The USSBA Cadets drum and bugle corps will use Yamaha brass instruments beginning with the 2000 season.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI (July 21, 2000)—The Yamaha Corporation of America and Youth Education in the Arts (YEA!) have announced that Yamaha will be the Presenting Sponsor of the U.S. Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) beginning in 2000.

The U.S. Scholastic Band Association (USSBA), an affiliation of more than 300 high school marching bands, was formed in1988 to provide local band programs with a competitive circuit featuring the best adjudicators from across the continent and a venue for the U.S. Scholastic Band Championship. USSBA is a program of YEA!, which also includes the renowned Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps.

"We’re proud to have the Yamaha name associated with an esteemed group like USSBA," says Michael Bennett, Vice President and General Manager, Band & Orchestral Division, Yamaha Corporation of America. "It provides a positive experience for thousands of young musicians throughout America that would be hard to duplicate anywhere else."

Recently, USSBA band performers appeared on NBC’s Today Show as part of VH1 Save the Music Today! week on the popular morning show, a music education initiative supported by Yamaha. USSBA member bands also played on Broadway this spring in an outdoor performance of 76 Trombones to welcome The Music Man back to the Great White Way in a revival production featuring Yamaha Band & Orchestral instruments.

George Hopkins, Executive Director of YEA! says, "Yamaha will be offering support at the highest level to all local and regional events and the USSBA Championships. They will also be actively involved in our concert and jazz band efforts, the upcoming percussion series in 2001, and other future projects. In short, they have agreed to be full partners with YEA! as we work to expand our scholastic efforts across the country."

Beginning with the 2000 season, the Cadets will use Yamaha brass products and will continue to do so throughout the length of the agreement. YEA! and its program offerings will also become full partners with Yamaha in all instrument categories as soon as arrangements can be finalized for the coming years.

Each year, USSBA bands are offered 100 festival opportunities as well as invitations to compete at major Regional Championships and the US Scholastic Band Championship. Bands in the USSBA compete in eighteen different classes, performing and competing with other bands of like size and talent. The USSBA’s focus is on education, not merely running shows and competitions.

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, 3445 East Paris Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49518; call (616) 940-4900; send e-mail to info@yamaha.com or visit the Yamaha web site at www.yamaha.com/band.

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