Members of Georgia State University’s marching band piled onto four buses and pulled away from downtown Atlanta Friday morning at 8:11 a.m., bound for a performance in the inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. Monday afternoon.
Those who were awake as the 12-hour bus ride began were excited.
For a band in its third year of existence, performing in the inaugural parade will be a signature moment. More than 2,800 bands applied for the honor.
The weekend schedule includes sight-seeing, practice at a D.C. area school, more sight-seeing, more practice and a performance Sunday evening at the Georgia State Society Inaugural Gala.
Monday’s performance, however, is the big moment. The band is expecting to start marching around 3:30 p.m., about an hour into the parade.
Band director Chester Phillips spent recent practice time smoothing out rough edges — making sure the band’s movements were precise, making sure its sound was crisp.
“Still some things to work on with our alignment,” he told the band at a recent practice. “But we’re off to a good start. We’re going to really dig in when we get to D.C.”
Reporter Wayne Washington is traveling with Georgia State University's marching band as it heads to Washington, D.C., to perform in Monday's inaugural parade. Watch for updates during the band's trip.
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