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Working With The Lions Of Michigan All-State Band - Serving The World Through Music & Nonprofit Video Production
Many nonprofit organizations are exceptional, but it would be extremely difficult to find one as inspiring as the Lions of Michigan All-State Band.
This amazing organization brings together high school musicians from all over Michigan to travel across the world and share their musical talents everywhere they go. Best of all, these performances don't take place in your typical concert venues. Instead, the band performs at veteran homes, children's hospitals, and even on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. With each note and sensational performance, these gifted youngsters spread joy and happiness through the power of music everywhere they go.
We've been blessed to work with the Lions of Michigan All-State Band for many years, and have been fortunate to capture some awe-inspiring, life-changing moments. Additionally, we've learned what it takes to tell powerful stories through the craft of nonprofit video production.
In this article, we'll master the musical majesty that has transformed the Lions of Michigan All-State Band into one of the most inspiring nonprofit organizations in the state of Michigan. We'll also discuss the power of nonprofit video production and how you can utilize nonprofit videography to elevate your organization. But before we get started, be sure to watch our Build Up The Band promotional video to learn more about the Lions of Michigan All-State Band.
History of The Lions Of Michigan All-State Band
The band was originally formed in 1978 to accompany the incoming Lions Clubs International Director, Ralph A. Lyman, as he made his debut at the 61st annual Lions Clubs International convention in Tokyo, Japan. Since that moment, the band has traveled to the Lions Clubs International convention each year to perform in the organization's annual parade. Eventually, that singular performance transformed into something larger, leading the band to perform at public venues during their annual tour.
Since their inception, the band has gone on to perform in Germany, Italy, Australia, China, Taiwan, France, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, and all over the United States. With each new destination comes a new adventure and incredible memories for every participating student and staff member.
How To Join The Band
In order to join the band, you must be between the ages of 14 (high school freshman) and 18 (high school senior). In some years, they've allowed some college freshmen to join the band (approximately age 19 or 20), but this isn't always the case, so be sure to check their website for any updates to their age policies and requirements.
Joining the band is as easy as submitting a video audition online. When you visit the organization's website, simply click the "Audition" tab and follow the instructions listed on the page. After you've recorded your audition video, you can choose to upload your video file and submit it via email, or you can submit it as a YouTube link for the directors to review.
The organization also holds in-person auditions once or twice per year. These dates can vary from year to year, so once again, please check their website for key dates and regular audition updates. Best of all, the organization prides itself on seeking passionate high school musicians. Not musical prodigies. If you're a high school musician passionate about performing, growing with your peers, and traveling the world, you're exactly who the Lions of Michigan All-State Band is searching for. For more information about the organization, please click here to visit their official website.
REHEARSALS AND Band Camp
Before their annual tour, the incoming band members get together to rehearse on 3 different dates, typically scattered from January to May. Because there are only 3 rehearsal dates, each high school musician must practice their music in their free time to ensure an optimal performance during the tour.
The week before their annual tour, the incoming students go to band camp. The venue changes each year, so please check their website for this year's address.
At band camp, the students practice marching, master their parade piece, and bond over their love of music. Marching in the morning, group rehearsals before lunch, sectionals after lunch, more marching in the afternoon, and a group rehearsal in the evening is undoubtedly a full schedule, but an absolute blast from start to finish.
The icing on the cake is the band's special friends-and-family concert to wrap up their band camp experience the night before they embark on their tour. This moment allows parents and members of the Lions of Michigan Foundation to hear what the band has been working on for months, and to get the students hyped for the adventure they're about to embark on.
Traveling With the Band
The Lions of Michigan All-State Band Tour
4Everscope Media's connection to the Lions of Michigan All-State Band began in 2007. 4Everscope's founder, filmmaker Jeremy Michael Hull, was fresh out of high school when he was given the opportunity to travel with the band as their official tour videographer. This experience changed the course of his life forever.
In 2007, the band traveled to Chicago, Illinois, to attend the 90th annual Lions Clubs International convention. At that time, Jeremy had no idea where he wanted to attend college or how he wanted to pursue his passion for film and video production. During the band's performance at the Taste of Chicago, Jeremy noticed the admissions building for Columbia College Chicago, which had a mannequin dangling from a noose on its roof. The bizarre sight was enough to trigger some curiosity. After doing some research, Jeremy discovered that Columbia College had one of the highest-ranked film schools in the country and produced some of the world's greatest artists, including George Tillman Jr., Robert Teitel, Chris McKay, Lena Waithe, and Janusz Kamiński.
The moment Jeremy got home, he submitted his application to Columbia College, packed his bags, and moved to Chicago for 6 years.
The experience made Jeremy think, "If traveling with a marching band for 8 days can have that type of impact on me - their tour videographer - I can't imagine the impact it has on its band members."
In the years that followed, Jeremy continued to travel with the band, capturing footage in Boston (Massachusetts), Minneapolis (Minnesota), Bangkok (Thailand), and Sydney (Australia). Each destination created new opportunities, formed lifelong friendships, and changed the lives of students and staff alike.
Traveling with the band is more than just playing music. It's marching through downtown Minneapolis in front of thousands of people. It's performing a surprise pop-up concert on the deck of the USS Intrepid in New York City. It's riding elephants through the jungle in Chiang Mai. It's performing for children with cancer at the Sydney Children's Hospital and an orphanage in Bangkok. And if you're anything like Jeremy, it's discovering your new home in the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois.
This organization doesn't just change the lives of the people listening to great music. It changes the lives of the kids who play it.
Why Every Nonprofit Needs a Videographer
The Benefits of Nonprofit Video Production
Imagine if all these incredible moments weren't professionally captured by a nonprofit videographer. You, the head of the organization, would be left with random video clips and pictures on your cell phone, lost in the digital shuffle of everyday life. It would be up to you to post your clips and images online, hoping to capture someone's attention so others will join your cause.
No strategy, no scheduling, and no optimization. This is why it's so important to hire a nonprofit videographer or video production company.
The benefits of nonprofit video production are immense. Capturing an array of incredible footage allows your organization to create a story/brand video that can live on the home page of your website, create fundraising videos for presentations, capture testimonials from past beneficiaries (or band alumni), and create advertisements for upcoming events and galas. Additionally, the raw footage from each event can be broken down into reels, YouTube videos, YouTube Shorts, and social media posts on all of your social platforms, building a content library you can use for years to come.
Beyond simply shooting footage, 4Everscope Media also helps nonprofit organizations schedule and optimize their content, giving you the freedom and peace of mind to focus on other priorities. Instead of just capturing footage, 4Everscope Media becomes an extension of your team and one of your strongest supporters.
Other benefits to hiring a nonprofit videographer include:
Showing your mission and services in action
Showing your donors your impact
Using video content to recruit volunteers
Using event footage to maximize impact and outreach
Preserving the history and legacy of your organization
If you'd like to learn more about these benefits, you can do so by reading our article, WHY YOUR NONPROFIT NEEDS A VIDEOGRAPHER.
Working With 4Everscope Media
Your Trusted Nonprofit Video Production Company
4Everscope Media has worked with many nonprofit organizations across the state of Michigan, including the Lions of Michigan Foundation, Lions of Michigan All-State Band, Ruth Mott Foundation, Shiawassee Art Center, and Special Olympics Michigan. We've helped these organizations showcase their impact, attract donors and volunteers, and expand their reach across the state. Given the opportunity, we'd love to help your organization too.
Our approach combines strategic planning, professional video production, and purposeful storytelling to create content that works for your organization for years to come. Our goal is to build a purpose-driven content library that will forever serve you, your team, and your mission.
We help you turn what you know, what you do, and the people you serve into stories the world will never forget.
Contact us today to schedule your free discovery call.
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