Nebraska Masonic Foundation

One week that will change your outlook on life

The Masonic All-Star Marching Band Camp is a one-week camp held in conjunction with the Nebraska Shrine Bowl on the campus of the University of Nebraska in Kearney. Nebraska Blue Lodges, Eastern Star Chapters, Shrine Clubs, Scottish and York Rite Bodies, individuals and companies sponsor high school band students from all over the state to attend this first-rate marching band camp.

The camp was created in 1995 by then Grand Master Jerry L. Rittenburg to provide lodges and other Masonic bodies with a way to foster community involvement. The Masonic All-Star Marching Band Camp lives on as his legacy, providing excellent experiences for Nebraska youth, while assisting in the mission of the Shrine Bowl - "Strong Legs Run, that Weak Legs May Walk."

What is the All-Star Band all about?

A five-day band clinic hosted by the Nebraska Masonic Foundation and the Grand Lodge of Nebraska

The band plays in the Shrine Parade in Kearney and performs during half-time at the Annual Nebraska Shrine Bowl Classic football game at UNK.

Scholarships for the band clinic are available from many Masonic Organizations such as Masonic Lodges, Eastern Star Chapters, Scottish Rite, York Rite or Shrine Clubs.

Talented Nebraska High School band students in their Freshman through Junior years with experience in at least one marching band instrument.

Students practice two to three times a day under the direction of professional band directors.

Planned evening social activities such as a dance, bowling, outdoor concert, etc.

An opportunity to meet new friends and renew old acquaintances.

Twenty-four-hour adult supervision is provided.

Student rooms and meals will be in a UNK residence hall – adult supervision at all times.

Marching practices are held on the field at UNK.

Indoor practices are held in UNK facilities.

Planned social activities may be held on campus or at another location – transportation is provided if off campus.

The Masonic All-Star Marching Band Camp is organized under the Nebraska Masonic Foundation. The Nebraska Masonic Foundation is a 501c3 organization.

Student Application

2025 BAND CAMP APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED

If you applied for band camp before March 25, 2025, you will receive an email from the Planning Committee to Register for camp ONLY if both the Parent and Band Director Approval Forms have been received.

Please watch this video for more information:

Contact Band Committee

Scholarship Registration for Lodges / Chapters / Individuals

Please fill out the Scholarship Notification form below to notify us of an incoming scholarship or scholarships either by check or PayPal.

Scholarship Notifications are REQUIRED for all scholarship payments made. Scholarship Notifications help us match a scholarship payment with a particular student, city or school. This is the FASTEST and EASIEST way for us to know what to do with your scholarship payment

Scholarship Notifications are due as soon as the recipient, city or school is known.

We will not be accepting paper applications.

If you have questions, please contact the band committee using the button below.

Contact Band Committee

Music Files for Download

Music information for 2025 wil be posted in early 2025.

The music files for camp should be downloaded from the Google Drive folder using the button below, which contains music for ALL instruments.

Music for your instrument must be printed, placed in flip folders and brought to camp.

If you have questions, please contact the band committee using the button below.

Contact Band Committee

MASONIC ALL-STAR MARCHING BAND CAMP FACTS

What is the Masonic All-Star Marching Band Camp?

It is a program sponsored by the Nebraska Masonic Foundation and Nebraska Grand Lodge in conjunction with the Annual Nebraska Shrine Bowl Classic. Students from Nebraska high schools will attend music clinics and training sessions conducted May 30-June 3, 2023, at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The band will be featured on game day in the Shrine Bowl Parade and perform a half-time show at the Annual Nebraska Shrine Bowl Classic football game in Kearney.

What is its purpose?

To support youth, create local interest and attention and provide more visibility of the Masonic family. In keeping with the tradition of the Shrine Bowl Classic, our goal is to make the Masonic All-Star Marching Band Camp an opportunity for the best of the best musicians in our state to come together, truly making this an “all-star” marching band. You are encouraged to reward the most talented band members in your community with the chance to participate as a member in this outstanding band camp. Not only does this ensure that the camp remains a premier program, but these gifted students have more of a capacity to bring back and share what they learn to their own individual schools and band programs.

Who will sponsor the students?

Nebraska Masonic Lodges, Eastern Star Chapters, York Rite Bodies, Scottish Rite Bodies, Shrine Clubs, and individual members of the Masonic Family.

What is the money used for?

All student expenses except travel to and from Kearney are paid for by the scholarship.

How do we get involved?

The Lodge Master, Secretary and/or leaders of other Masonic organizations are receiving this information.

Make the decision to provide one or more scholarships if financially able to do so.

Determine source of funding for scholarships - $350.00/student.
- Lodge or Organization funds
- Donations from Lodge or Organization members
- Fund-raising activity

Select student(s)
- Students must be presently enrolled as high school freshman, sophomores or juniors.
- Contact the High School Band Director
- Students may be selected by a High School Band Director or you, but must be endorsed by Band Directors (knows skill level of student)
- Fill out Notification Band Scholarship form online using the button above
- Either pay online using the PayPal button on the Notification Form page or mail check to the Grand Lodge office no later than March 11, 2023.

If you want to provide a scholarship but are unable to find a student, submit the Notification of Band Scholarship and check, as we always have numerous students who apply that do not have a scholarship available.

What if we don't get involved?

An opportunity for your Lodge or organization and its members to become more involved in your community and to create more recognition is what Masonry is all about. To provide a worthy student or students in your community with an unforgettable learning experience; and the chance to have your community represented before thousands of state-wide spectators at the Annual Nebraska Shrine Bowl Classic is an honor we hope you have in providing a student with a scholarship, if able.