Marching Band
It's time to get ready for the 2024-25 Highlander Marching Band season! The McLean High School Bands are a visible and essential part of our student and wider community culture. Our staff works hard to provide you with a comprehensive, challenging, and fun music education experience. We want this to be an important and impactful part of your lives for the next four years.
The registration form and marching band camp activity fee are due by May 10, 2024.
The McLean Highlander Marching Band combines precision drill and movement with artistic musical performance. Students from all bands participate in the fall marching program, comprised of students from the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band and Percussion Ensembles. Color Guard members enhance the general effect with dance, flags and weapons.
The McLean Highlander Marching Band performs their award-winning field shows during halftime at home football games as they prepare for the various marching band competitions hosted by the Youth Education in the Arts’ USBands organization, Bands of America (BoA) , and the Virginia Marching Band Cooperative (VMBC). These competitions take the Marching Highlanders to various locations within Fairfax county, the region and states outside the Commonwealth. They additionally bring energy into the stands performing Pep Band-style music to help the support the football team and cheerleaders throughout the game.
The McLean Highlander Marching Band’s commitment to excellence has been demonstrated through its numerous awards, showcased in our Competitive History and Awards page. The marching band consistently receives superior ratings in marching band competitions.
The Marching Highlander’s 2023 field show placed 150 students on the field, which included 39 freshmen and 16 Color Guard members.
To prepare music and marching for a 10- to 12-minute field show, rehearsals for the Marching Band begin in early August and continue through their final competition events in November. Look in the Calendar to see where you can watch and support the Marching Band!