Surrounded by his classmates in the Mt. Hebron High School band room, Kevin Bao slipped the black and gold U.S. Army Band jacket over his head and broke out into a huge smile.

Bao, a senior at Mt. Hebron High School, has been chosen as one of six piccolo players from across the country to become a member of the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. He will join a group of elite marching musicians selected to perform in the 10th Anniversary of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl half-time show on Jan. 9, 2010, at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

"He is a smart kid. We are honored to have him," Brian Prato, director of operations for the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, said in a phone interview from his office in Warton, N.J.

More than 1,300 musicians apply for the band. Of those, 97 high school senior marching musicians were chosen, Prato said. The musicians were chosen by the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band Selection Committee, consisting of the National Association for Music Education, Drum Crops International head director and show coordinator Nola Jones and Sports Link, owner of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

"I could teach another 20 years and not see a player like that," Mt. Hebron band director Daniel Pendley said of Bao's musical abilities. "He is a fine piccolo player and as talented and smart as he is, he acts like just a regular kid. For him to be recognized like this is huge."

He will fly to San Antonio, all expenses paid, on Jan. 5, with all clothing, food, instruction, hotel stays provided, rehearse for four days and then perform at the Army All-American Bowl, which is telecast live on NBC.

Bao went through the audition process last year while he was a junior after receiving a recommendation from former band director Robert Douglas Johnston.

On Oct. 23, he was visited by U.S. Army All-American Marching Band representatives, presented with his band jacket and officially invited to join the All-American Bowl.

"This is a big deal," Prato said. "It's not every day that a marching band member gets recognized at that level. For a typical high school band kid, it's a pretty special thing," Prato said.

Bao is far from typical. He is the class valedictorian and captain of the economics, mathematics, programming and trivia teams. Bao is also a national Advanced Placement scholar, an all-state and an all-county musical ensemble champion. He is a member of his school's wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, Dixieland combo, show orchestra and full orchestra. In addition, he plays at weddings and other events in smaller ensembles.

He began playing the flute in fourth grade and the piccolo two years later. He also plays the piano.

Last year, when he learned Johnston nominated him for the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, Bao decided to go ahead with filling out the necessary applications. He had to submit videos showing his marching technique based on new music and routines judges provided, playing abilities and personality as well as an online application.

In July, he received a letter informing him he had been selected.

"I was so overjoyed words cannot explain how happy I was," Bao said. "I think it is a true honor to be recognized and to represent your school in a national event. This was a defining moment of my life."

Within the next month he will receive the music he is to play during the half-time show in Texas. He is worried little about learning new material for such an important performance.

"Ever since I started playing music, it comes naturally to me," said Bao, who is considering becoming a surgeon. "I play through it once or twice and I have it memorized by then."

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