Excelsior Band Nationally Honored

The Excelsior Band marches in Joe Cain Procession as it winds through downtown Mobile, Ala., during Mardi Gras on Sunday, Feb 23, 2020. | image by Mike Kittrell via AL.com

MOBILE, Ala. — The Excelsior Band of Mobile is among the National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) 2022 National Heritage Fellowship honorees, AL.com reported. The brass band, which traces its history back to 1883, is a Black marching group that regularly appears at Mardi Gras and other civic events. It “has, for generations, embodied the culture of the City of Mobile and its beloved Mardi Gras celebrations,” NEA said. It added that its fellowship program, now in its 40th year, is “our nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.” Each fellowship includes a $25,000 award. The recipients also will be featured in a film that will premiere in November on NEA’s website. “Through the film, viewers will have the opportunity to visit the homes and communities where the fellows live and work, providing a connection to the distinct art forms and traditions these artists practice,” added NEA.