Dear Directors, Music Educators, Students, and Families,
Throughout my career in music education, serving as president of the South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA) and past president of the South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA), I have witnessed firsthand how a single, meaningful arts experience can completely shape a student’s life. Growing up and teaching with a personal perspective on music education in rural South Carolina, I know how vital it is to bring world-class opportunities directly to our local communities, particularly along the I-95 corridor.
That is why I am thrilled to help introduce Crown ONE, a brand-new Carolina Crown community outreach initiative built on a simple but profound idea: one experience can change everything.
Crown ONE is dedicated to expanding access to the live performing arts. The initiative brings the transformative power of elite marching music directly to local elementary and middle school music programs by providing complimentary tickets to Crown-hosted events. Through this program, students and their families can experience the power of Carolina Crown alongside other world-class drum corps at absolutely no cost.
Crown ONE is available for all four of their spectacular summer events.
Carolina Crown is inviting families and school districts to join them live at any of these locations:
Crown LIVE (at Gardner-Webb University) – June 20, 2026
Crown BEAT (at River Bluff HS) – July 3, 2026
Night BEAT (at Wake Forest) – July 26, 2026
Brass at the Beach (at Coastal Carolina) – July 28, 2026
For our young students, seeing the dedication, athleticism, and artistry of Drum Corps International’s top performers can spark a lifelong passion for music. For families, it is a chance to share in an inspiring, high-energy artistic experience together.
Crown wants to make this as seamless as possible for our music communities. Crown ONE is offering free tickets for a family of four (which includes the elementary or middle school music student).
For Individuals & Families: All you have to do is register online at carolinacrown.org/crownone
For School Groups & Band Directors: If you are planning to bring a larger group from your music program, please email Crown directly at [email protected] to coordinate your tickets.
Thank you for your tireless dedication to music education, to Carolina Crown, to DCI, and most importantly, to the remarkable young people whose lives are forever changed through this incredible activity. Crown cannot wait to see you and your families in the stands this summer!
Musically,
Tom Finigan
President, South Carolina Music Educators Association