2026 UNC Marching Tar Heels Honors Marching Band
Deadline to Register is August 26, 2026
WHO?
Current high school sophomores, juniors and seniors who perform with their high school band (winds, drums, guard, majorettes).
WHAT?
An honor band experience like no other!
WHEN?
Saturday, September 12, 2025
WHERE?
UNC – Chapel Hill’s Kenan Stadium
WHY?
To experience the fun of being in a college band.
HOW?
By performing with the UNC Marching Tar Heels!
All current high school sophomores, juniors and seniors are invited to apply to participate in the 2026 UNC Marching Tar Heels Honors Marching Band and join the UNC Marching Tar Heels for the September 12 football game against East Tennessee State in Kenan Stadium. Participant will be selected based on musical accomplishment, instrumentation, leadership experience, and year in school. The application site will close at noon an Wednesday, August 26 and selected participants will be notified by 2p on Friday, August 29.
Groups of students from the same high school may be selected to participate but they must register (and pay) as individuals. This experience is not designed for everyone in a high school marching band; rather it is designed for those students who are sincerely interested in finding out more about UNC-Chapel Hill, the Marching Tar Heels and/or college marching bands in general.
Those selected to participate will be provided a parking permit (1 per participant), a pregame meal with the Marching Tar Heels, a game ticket, cap, and the chance to experience game day with the Marching Tar Heels. Selected participants will be matched with a member of the Marching Tar Heels for the entire game day, including our pregame rehearsal, game day meal, march to the stadium, performance in the stands during the game, and a performance on the field at halftime of the football game. Every participant must have an adult attend that will assume responsibility for them in the event of an emergency. Participants may not attend this event without an adult that is responsible for them.
Family members accompanying the selected participants will receive a pregame meal with the Marching Tar Heels and a game ticket. All adults adults and guests will be seated in section 210, which is relatively near the participant seating. There is a limit of 4 adult/guest tickets for each participant.
The game will kick-off at noon. The event will start approximately 5 hours before kick-off and last until 4 hours after kick-off. The schedule for the day will be:
7:15a – Arrive on campus/move to rehearsal location/check-in
7:45a – Welcome/warm-up/rehearse with the Marching Tar Heels
9:30a – Perform for the team arrival rally
9:45a – Pregame meal in Lenoir
10:30a – Drumline performance in the Pit
11:00a – Pregame Pep Rally in the Pit
11:10a – March to the stadium/move into seats
11:45p – Marching Tar Heels pregame performance
12:00p – Kick-Off. GO HEELS!
Halftime – Performance on the field with the Marching Tar Heels
Postgame – Performance with the Marching Tar Heels
4:00p – Event ends/ get some rest!
Cost for participants will be $40 each and accompanying adults/guests will be charged $50. Band directors who wish to attend will not be charged.
So that every participant may have the best experience possible, we ask that everyone comes to the event prepared to play the music that will be used during the halftime performance (no memorization necessary). Participants will be required to wear their school’s marching uniform (with the cap provided) during the entire experience and everyone will be responsible for providing their own instrument/flag. Drummers should also bring stadium stands if they have them, Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate front ensemble instruments.
Questions may be sent via email to jeff@unc.edu.
We are excited to offer this Honor Band opportunity and look forward to meeting high school students who are interested in UNC, the Marching Tar Heels and college bands in general. GO HEELS!
Apply Here