EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) \u2013 Effingham County High School\u2019s marching band will help open one of the most iconic parades in the world on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The school\u2019s band, the Rebel Regiment, has been selected as the honor band and will march ahead of the grand marshal in the 265th annual New York City St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade.<\/p>\n
The parade, held each year on March 17, is the oldest and largest St. Patrick\u2019s Day parade in the world and draws nearly 2 million people.<\/p>\n
Students will leave for New York on Sunday as they prepare for what band leaders say is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.<\/p>\n
Head Band Director Will Alford said the goal was to give students a chance to perform somewhere new.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were looking for an opportunity for the kids to perform in a place or a venue they had never performed. Most of my kids have never been in New York City, so take them to experience new things in life in places they may never go again,\u201d Alford said. \u201cWe applied and sent in a resume and videos. Not only did they accept us into the parade, they also named us the honor band and we are the escort for the grand marshal. So very cool on it for the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alford said the band\u2019s recent success in competitions helped them stand out during the selection process.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lot of kids who perform very well, and we had a very good season in our competition season this past year and the year before as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The band also performed in the 2024 Fiesta Flambeau Parade in San Antonio, where it won best out-of-state band, footage that organizers reviewed while considering the group for the New York parade.<\/p>\n
Preparation for the performance has been months in the making.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is something we do throughout the fall in terms of competitive marching band as we work on everything that you\u2019ll see in the parade,\u201d Alford said. \u201cMarching fundamentals and horn carriers and everything else, the sound, it all happens in the fall. And then we just kind of apply this new music to it to introduce it to the parade environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alford also credited the community for helping students make the trip possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids have worked incredibly hard and the community has as well in terms of supporting these kids,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of kids\u2019 trips paid for on full scholarship by businesses, and they\u2019ve really gone above and beyond to help out these kids and to help pay their way to New York and to represent this community.\u201d<\/p>\n
For students, the opportunity to perform on such a large stage brings both excitement and nerves.<\/p>\n
Head Drum Major Skylar Vining said the chance to represent the school in New York is an honor.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little nerve wracking, but I\u2019m glad that our band is getting this opportunity to be seen by this many people. They do a lot of hard work all the time,\u201d Vining said.<\/p>\n
Vining said learning the band would perform in the parade was \u201cmind blowing,\u201d especially after previous performances such as the San Antonio parade.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just thought it was a big honor,\u201d Vining said.<\/p>\n
Beyond the performance, Vining said the trip will also be meaningful because of the relationships built through the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think our band has a family environment that a lot of places don\u2019t get to have,\u201d Vining said. \u201cI think that really does impact the way that we march and the way that we perform with each other, because we all have a mutual trust with each other that we know we\u2019re going to get done what we need to get done there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The trip will also be Vining\u2019s first time visiting New York.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m most excited for the experiences that this is going to give me. I\u2019ve never been to New York personally, so to be able to go with these people that I\u2019ve known for so long and almost consider my family is really exciting for me,\u201d Vining said.<\/p>\n
Vining said the band\u2019s hard work over the years has led to the opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want them to know that I think they really deserve this opportunity,\u201d Vining said. \u201cThey work so hard day in and day out during marching season and even during the off season.\u201d<\/p>\n
The band is coming off a record-setting marching season, winning three grand championships in a row, a first for the school.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m incredibly proud,\u201d Vining said. \u201cFor this group to be going and performing in New York after that is just unreal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vining added that the moment would not have been possible without the support of directors, parents and the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just really grateful for all of the people who have been through here to help us with this,\u201d Vining said. \u201cAll the directors, all of the band moms, all the leadership that works really, really hard, and the kids themselves to be able to make this moment possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
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