Campo Verde Bands Earn "Best International Band" Honors During Ireland Tour

Apr 13 2026

The Campo Verde High School Band traveled to Ireland this March for an eight-day performance tour, representing the Gilbert community through several high-profile international events. From March 13th through March 20th, students participated in a series of competitions and cultural exchanges across the country.

Campo Verde administrative building with flags, and a banner reading "Every Person. Every Day"

A major milestone of the trip occurred at the Limerick Band Festival, where Campo Verde was awarded the title of Best International Band. This recognition highlighted the talent and preparation of the student musicians on an international stage.

The ensemble also performed at Kilkenny Castle, a concert that included a specific focus on community outreach. As traditional school band programs are not a standard part of the local curriculum, Campo Verde students spent time after the performance introducing their instruments to Irish elementary students and providing them with hands-on demonstrations.

The tour’s final performance took place during the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The band marched the two-mile route through the city for a crowd of over 600,000 spectators, the largest attendance recorded for the event to date.

During the trip, students followed an itinerary that was designed to provide them with a comprehensive look at Irish history and culture. Educational excursions included visits to the Cliffs of Moher and the Glendalough monastic ruins, a site dating back to 600 AD.

In addition to sightseeing, students engaged in several interactive cultural experiences. They attended workshops to learn the mechanics of Hurling, Ireland’s national sport, and practiced traditional Irish dancing. The trip concluded with an evening of music and dance featuring the Merry Ploughboys.

Campo Verde’s band program schedules a major international trip every 3 to 4 years as a way to recognize the hard work and discipline of the students. Amber Klasen, VP of Public Relations for the booster board, emphasized that the trip served as more than just a performance opportunity.

"To be able to bring what Campo does best to Ireland and see the joy on their faces was priceless," Klasen stated. "Band isn't just about making music; it is about bringing different cultures and lives together. We learned so much about the lives of the Irish, and the students will be talking about this for the rest of their lives."

The Campo Verde community is invited to celebrate the success of these students by attending their upcoming local performances. These events provide the public an opportunity to see the award-winning talent of the Campo Verde Bands firsthand. See upcoming performances at CampoVerdeBand.com.

A crowd of people in festive attire, including green and white costumes, marching in a parade while a drummer in the foreground plays a set of drums.

A large crowd of people carrying a banner for the Campo Verde Bands marching in a parade, with a church steeple and other buildings visible in the background.

A group of people in matching black shirts are standing in a grassy courtyard surrounded by historic stone buildings.

The image depicts a trophy or award for the %22Best International Band%22 from the 54th International Band Championship, with a colorful geometric design in the background.

A group of people standing in front of a large, ornate church with a tall spire against a blue sky with clouds.

A group of people sitting on a bench in front of a large, medieval-style stone tower against a cloudy sky.

A group of people holding Irish flags and standing on a street, with buildings and a cloudy sky visible in the background.

A group of people, some wearing high-visibility vests, are gathered around a person playing a drum in front of a large castle-like building.

A group of people, including a person playing a tuba, gathered in front of a castle-like building on a grassy field.

A group of people walking along a stone bridge leading to a towering medieval castle with a round turret and arched entryway.

A group of people dressed in traditional Scottish attire, including kilts and bagpipes, gathered in an urban setting with buildings and trees visible in the background.

A group of people, wearing matching t-shirts, stand in front of the dramatic cliffs of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.

A large group of people dressed in green uniforms and holding various musical instruments, gathered in front of a brick building with a tall tower in the background.