CARSON, CA (March 1, 2005) - Eight national and local high school marching bands will be selected from hundreds of entries to compete in the second-annual Battle of the High School Marching Bands Contest that will take place Saturday, November 19, 2005, at The Home Depot Center.  The eight finalists will travel to Carson and battle it out \"Southern Show Style\" while being judged by a panel of celebrity and music industry executives to determine who will be awarded $10,000 to purchase new instruments or uniforms for their program.

Beginning today, March 1, and through April 29, interested schools can enter the selection process.  Complete rules for the contest are available by visiting The Home Depot Center's website at homedepotcenter.com.  The eight schools selected as finalists will be announced on Friday, May 20.

The earlier selection process gives schools more time to prepare and fundraise for the travel expenses to Carson.

Last year's inaugural event saw Redan High School of Stone Mountain, Georgia, beat out the tough competition to become the first school to win the Battle of the High School Marching Bands Contest.  The Redan High School marching band will return to the 2005 Battle of the High School Marching Bands as one of the eight finalists as they prepare to defend the title. 

Proceeds from the event benefit The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation and the VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

Since VH1 Save The Music was created in 1997, they have given more than $25 million worth of instruments to more than 500,000 children. VH1 Save The Music's many honors include the Governors' Award (a special Emmy Award), the George Foster Peabody Award for broadcast and cable excellence, and many Beacon Awards.
The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation was established to provide financial and in-kind support for educational, recreational and social service programs which improve the lives of young people in the Greater Southern California region. The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation has given more than $400,000 to youth organizations since The Home Depot Center opened in 2003.

2005 confirmed sponsors to date: VH1 Save the Music Foundation, Toyota, 100.3 The Beat, Drillmasters Marching Shoes, Fortune Tee and SB0 Magazine.
Contestants must enter the 2005 Battle of the High School Marching Bands Contest via regular mail.   On a plain piece of 8 1/2\" x 11\" paper, type or clearly hand print all of the information listed below, and mail the paper, along with a VHS tape or DVD (containing no more than one (1) video and audio song performance by your high school marching band), in a single, padded envelope, with sufficient first class postage affixed, to: The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation/Battle of the High School Marching Bands Contest, 18400 Avalon Blvd., Suite 100, Carson, CA 90746.

Required Information:
- Name of the high school marching band
- Hometown, state and zip code of high school marching band
- Number of band members and number of faculty supervisors
- Name of one (1) song entry 
- Primary contact's (person who should receive all communications) complete name, address, date of birth, daytime and evening telephone numbers, e-mail address, fax number and relationship to the high school band.

The Contest entry period begins on March 1, 2005 and ends on April 29, 2005 (the \"Entry Period\"). Entries must be postmarked on or before April 29, 2005.  Entries received prior to the Entry Period or after May 3, 2005 will not be eligible. For more details log on to The Home Depot Center website homedepotcenter.com, vh1savethemusic.com, and thebeatla.com on March 1, 2005. All 8 Finalists will be announced on May 20, 2005.

Contact: Tamala Lewis, Home Depot Center, 310-630-2053
Contact: Lee Callans, AEG, 310-630-2095