For Immediate Release: 6/21/2012 4:21 pm
Worcester, MA (June 21, 2012) - Congressman James P. McGovern, along with Mayor Joseph M. Petty and City Manager Michael V. O'Brien, announced today that the South High Community School Marching Band will travel to Washington, D.C., to represent the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the National Independence Day Parade on the Fourth of July.
This announcement comes following a community-wide effort to raise the necessary funds to ensure that the band students could participate in the parade. The donations were used to pay for the band's travel and accommodation expenses, and the purchase of brand new uniforms.
City officials will hold a community-wide send-off for South High's Marching Band on Saturday, June 30th at 10:00 AM at Institute Park. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
In February, Governor Deval Patrick nominated South High's Marching Band to participate in the National Independence Parade, at the recommendation of Worcester Public Schools Arts Liaison Lisa Leach. South High band students and band director Johnetta Smith submitted video recordings, photos, and biographical information detailing experiences and honors. The Parade's National Selection Committee selected South High on the basis of overall quality, as well as geographical, ethnic and stylistic diversity.
Upon learning of their selection, school officials were uncertain if the students would be able to attend because of a lack of funding. That's when city and school officials, community leaders, corporations, city residents, parents and the students sprang into action to make sure that the city's only public high school marching band would be able to perform in the parade.
Individuals, area high schools, local officials, colleges and universities, corporations, including Unum, Fallon Community Health Plan, The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, the College of the Holy Cross, Clark University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute donated money and equipment or held fundraisers to support the effort. Parents and students worked tirelessly to fundraise at community events. WICN 90.5 FM Instrumental Partners Program, The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts and David French Music Co., of Westborough, as well as WICN 90.5 FM General Manager Gerry Weston supported the band in its efforts as well.
"I am so pleased by the collective effort of this community to come together to give these students the opportunity of a lifetime," said Mayor Joseph M. Petty. "The South High Marching Band has demonstrated the spirit and the talent that is worthy of representing Massachusetts in the National Independence Day Parade, and we are very proud of them."
On the Fourth of July, the band will march in Washington D.C., down Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th streets before an audience of hundreds of thousands of spectators. In the evening, the students will be part of the audience of "A Capitol Fourth," a PBS concert at the Capitol, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra and one of the country's largest fireworks displays. The students will have an opportunity to visit the White House and historic monuments while on their trip.
"I believe that music and the arts should be a strong part of every school's curriculum, and I am honored that a supremely talented group of South High students will represent our city in Washington, D.C.," said Congressman McGovern. "The hard work and many hours of practice these students have put in are representative of the great work being done at South High and across all of our Worcester schools."
The South High Marching Band is the only public high school marching band in the City of Worcester. The band has performed in the 2010 and 2011 Columbus Day Parade, the 2010, 2011 and 2012 St. Patrick's Day Parade and for the City of Worcester's inauguration exercises this past January.
"It is such an honor for our city to be represented in our nation's capital by these young, talented and motivated students," said City Manager Michael V. O'Brien. "Their commitment and hard work is admirable and they are a shining example of the positives happening in our community."
"Throughout this year, South High's Marching Band students worked hard to help raise funds to participate in the July 4th Parade in Washington D.C. These students and many of the parents participated in community activities, and strengthening their feelings of pride for their community, their music, their school and in each other," said South High Community School Principal Maureen Binienda. "South High's marching band is excited to represent Worcester and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is a memory our students will carry with them for the rest of their lives. We are very thankful for all the community support we have received."
