Global Initiative for Talented Students (GIFTS) a 501 (c)(3) organization in collaboration with Perform America – TX, LLC is excited to offer a new educational opportunity for high school marching bands. The Marching Arts Division of Medal of Distinction, will be an unique recording submission process designed to celebrate excellence in performance while simultaneously offering practical and exciting opportunities of growth for both students and directors. All participants will have access to a wealth of knowledge from evaluators with a variety of musical and visual backgrounds.. The Medal of Distinction program serves as a means to bring together a community of musicians and educators striving to better themselves, their programs and the art of music-making through the marching arts.

In our inaugural event, our focus will be on the educational aspects of your performance and work to provide feedback that will help elevate your bands to the next level.  In the following years, we will add a competitive component with the focus still on providing an educational experience.  Marching Band video recordings will be evaluated by 8 nationally recognized educators and designers. After viewing each group’s recordings, the adjudicators will share a video commentary of their review of each show to provide feedback for each program. In addition, one out of every ten bands will be randomly selected to have one of the evaluators visit and work with their program, the following year.  This is what makes Medal of Distinction a truly educational experience!