The SFU Band participated in Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 14.
The city’s parade is one of the most well-attended events in the nation that is tied to the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, annually drawing between 200 and 300 thousand attendees.
It is organized by the Irish Society for Education and Charity, a non-profit organization.
This year marked the second time that the SFU band has participated in the event. The band last participated in 2024.
Many of the band’s upperclassmen who had performed in the event two years ago were excited to go again.
Hope Telech, SFU’s mellophone section leader, performed in both the 2024 and 2026 parades.
“I like how good the audience is (each year),” said Telech. “They are excited to see us performing.”
In addition to SFU’s band, Carnegie Mellon University’s marching band also performed at the event. Area high school bands participated in the parade as well.
The parade provided an opportunity for the band to promote the University in front of the thousands who attended last weekend’s event, as well as the audience who viewed it on a livestream.
“It’s a long day and a long parade, but I think the number of people there watching and cheering us on made it worthwhile,” said Jonathan Neff, SFU’s Band Director.