Albany State University’s visit to the state Capitol this week kicked off a fundraising campaign to send the marching band to the Tournament of Roses Parade in January.
The band visited the Gold Dome and played an outdoor mini-concert in the new Liberty Plaza during the ASU Day at the Capitol. With them was Mike Matthiessen, president of the 2015-2016 Tournament of Roses, said Chanta Haywood, Albany State’s vice president for institutional advancement.
Albany State is one of 13 national bands, and the only Georgia band, selected to participate in the nationally televised parade, which takes place in Pasadena, Calif., on January 1, before the Rose Bowl college football playoff game.
About 150 Marching Rams Show Band members and support staff are expected to make the trip. Travel costs — including meals, lodging and participation in other events such as a parade at Disneyland — will cost about $3,000 per student, Haywood said.
To fund the trip, Albany State has launched the “Rams in the Roses” fundraising drive.
“This is biggest event yet for the band on this level,” Haywood said. “This is the parade of all parades.”
Information, donations: https://giveto.asurams.edu/. Designate "Rams in the Roses … And Beyond" to contribute.
Last year, Georgia State University's marching band was selected as one of a dozen bands to march in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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