KAYSVILLE — The Davis High Marching Band is one of 15 bands selected to compete in the 2013 Parade of Roses in Pasadena. But first band participants must raise enough money for the 290 band members to make the California trip.
"It's about $1,100 for each student to go to this Rose Parade trip," band spokeswoman Michelle Thomson said. "The district, however, caps the student's out-of-pocket expense at $800. So our first goal was $90,000 … and we are short that about $40,000 right now, so we really need everybody's help to step up and get this band to the Rose Parade to represent the state of Utah."
More than 80 bands applied to march in the 2013 Tournament of Roses. The Davis High School Marching Band is one of the 15 that was chosen to go.
"They spend a couple months reviewing all of the bands from all over the country and internationally as well and then we select about 12 to 15 bands every year to participate a year-and-a-half later," Parade Participant Coordinator Jeanette Collier said.
Collier said entertainment value, precision in their marching and their field shows and also music content are all factors in selecting which bands will get to march in the parade.
This is not Davis' first trip to the Rose Parade. Director Steven Hendricks took the band to perform there in 2003.
"Few bands get there twice. We are going on the 10th anniversary of our first appearance," Thomson said. "We have spent several years competing and performing at different festivals where we have achieved top honors and that goes into it."
Lyndsie Hekimian, the band's color guard director, also remembers performing in the 2003 parade as a student in the color guard.
"It's a really great opportunity for them," she said. "It builds a lot of camaraderie within the band."
The marching band is accepting donations on its website at davisbands.org and a fundraiser is scheduled Sept. 15 at Davis High School.
"(The fundraiser) is called 'Oh the places you'll go' and all the ways you are going to get there, we are going to celebrate planes and trains and automobiles," Thomson said. "I know it is the same day as the BYU–Utah game, but they can come out and then head to the ball game."
For every test drive that is taken at the fundraiser Ford will be donating $20 to the band. The fundraiser will also feature rocket demonstrations, a 5K run and a three-on-three basketball tournament among other activities for kids and adults. Local bands supporting the marching band will also be playing at the fundraiser.
They are also trying to raise money for new instruments. Some of the instruments they play are 40 years old.
"The old baritones, they don't stay in tune and they don't look good at all," Heather Twogood, the baritones section leader, said. "Our sousaphones, they are falling apart. They have huge dents in them and are pretty expensive to fix. We're hoping to raise enough money and get people to know that we are raising money to be able to get those new instruments."
The band will continue with its three rehearsals per week schedule throughout the year, adding longer practice marches to build endurance as the parade approaches.
The Rose Parade route is five-and-a-half miles, which is significantly longer than the two mile Days of '47 Parade, which the band marched in last week. The parade route is packed with 700,000 spectators, and millions more watching on TV.
The band will be in California for five days. While there they will march in the Disneyland parade, perform at BandFest as well as march in the Tournament of Roses. They will also go to Medieval Times, Six Flags and other California attractions.
Twitter: @FinleyJY