MIHS band kicks off Rose Parade preparations

The band will host a celebration in the MIHS commons amphitheater tonight at 5 p.m.

March 29, 2018 12:41 pm
The Mercer Island High School band is marching toward its Rose Parade appearance next year, with a kickoff event set for tonight. Photo courtesy of Allison Nelson
The Mercer Island High School band is marching toward its Rose Parade appearance next year, with a kickoff event set for tonight. Photo courtesy of Allison Nelson

The Mercer Island High School Marching Band will kick off its preparations for the 2019 Rose Parade presented by Honda with a celebration and fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight in the MIHS commons and amphitheater, 9100 SE 42nd St.

The event coincides with the visit to Mercer Island by 2019 Tournament of Roses President Gerald Freeny and his wife, Trina. The president annually visits each band’s home town invited to participate in the Rose Parade. This will be the fourth appearance for the Mercer Island Band, with the most recent in 2012. Only 20 bands in the country were selected for the 2019 parade.

President Freeny will present the Tournament of Roses banner to MIHS at the kickoff celebration, which will include plenty of Marching Band music, a silent auction and raffle. Dinner will be available for purchase.

The MIHS Marching Band is helping to support the Banda Escolar de Guayanilla (BEG) from Puerto Rico, a municipal band that was also chosen for the 2019 Rose Parade, two weeks prior to the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

BEG was founded in 1975 and serves its small community in south Puerto Rico. They have marched in four Rose Parades, including in 2012 with Mercer Island.

The MIHS band is sending five students, Bixby and others to Guayanilla over spring break in April to build relationships with BEG’s student leadership and to assess how best to provide aid. The students are expected to meet with the Governor of Puerto Rico and Guayanilla civic leaders and march and play with BEG in their annual festival.

The Mercer Island Band has begun raising funds for the BEG band with the sale of “Island to Island” bracelets which will be available at the March 29 kickoff celebration. They will also be accepting donations for the MIHS band as well.

At more than 300 members, the Mercer Island High School band program is one of the largest in the state. The Marching Band performs at all MIHS home football games during the year as well as the MIHS Homecoming Parade. For more information, visit mercerislandbands.com.