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Illumination Ceremony

September 13, 2024 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm America/Washington, D.C

Taps for Veterans, in partnership with The Doughboy Foundation, is looking for ten trumpeters to participate in the September 13, 2024, Illumination Ceremony for the new Sculpture “A Soldier’s Journey” at the National WWI Memorial in Washington DC. 

Memorial architect Joe Weishaar calls Sabin Howard’s A Soldier’s Journey sculpture “The Everyman.” Thirty-eight separate figures, spread over approximately 58 feet of wall towards the western end of the Memorial Core, portray the experience of one American soldier. Starting from the left, the soldier takes leave from his wife and daughter, charges into combat, sees men around him killed, wounded, and gassed, and recovers from the shock to come home to his family. The figures are mounted on the wall.

This will be an important event in Washington, D.C as the 60-foot bronze sculpture will be set in place and dedicated during the Illumination Ceremony.  When “A Soldier’s Journey” is installed, it will become the largest freestanding high relief bronze in the Western Hemisphere.

Selected players will perform with ten other trumpeters from the Washington DC area (National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Military Bands) in performing an opening fanfare for the ceremony which will take place at the National WWI Memorial located on Pennsylvania Ave between 14th and 15th Street NW.  The fanfare will be conducted by Colonel (retired) Timothy Holtan.

Requirements for trumpeters:
1. Are a registered bugler with Taps For Veterans
2. Will submit an audition video of fanfare music provided below (audition video is due by Saturday, August 17, 2024)
3. Are clean shaven with short styled hair
3. Will wear a WWI uniform (sizes 40-48 only) which will be provided
4. Be available for a dress rehearsal Thursday (September 12) evening at the Memorial
5. Provide own transportation and hotel accommodations

https://www.nps.gov/wwim/learn/historyculture/journey.htm
https://doughboy.org/memorial/a-soldiers-journey/

For more information please email contact@tapsforveterans.org

Audition Music and Sound Clip

Posted below are both the audition music (Fanfare) and sound clip to be used as reference for your audition video

Illumination Ceremony FANFAREDownload

Registration and Audition Video Upload
Is Now Closed.
Thank you for your interest.

By registering, you understand that you are submitting an audition video to be considered for the Illumination Ceremony to be held on September 13, 2024, in Washington DC.

Audition videos are due by Saturday, August 17, 2024

You also agree that you meet all of the requirements listed above.

Video file types allowed are: .mp4 .mov .avi .wmv .mkv .m4v with a maximum file size of 255 MB.

National WW1 Memorial, Washington D.C

499 14th Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20045 United States + Google Map
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