Hampton University recently announced the school’s band, The Marching Force, was invited to play at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2020.
The Marching Force was selected as one of nine bands to perform at the annual parade. But just because the band was invited to perform does not necessarily mean they can afford it.
“It takes a lot to support a band,” said Thomas Jones Jr., director of the university band. “So we need all the help we can get.”
The Marching Force, which grew from 70 people to more than 200 people in a span of two years, also received an invitation to play in Rome, Italy for the New Year’s Day Parade.
Both performances are scheduled for 2020 and the band has to pay for all of it, not the university.
If the band does manage to raise the funds for both events, this would mark the first time in the school’s history of the Marching Force performing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
“The students are really excited,” Jones said. “A lot of them have never been to New York before.”
It’s unclear exactly how many band members plan on traveling to both trips since the students arrive from camp at a later date, Jones said.
For more information about the Hampton University Band or to donate, visit their website. The donations are tax-deductible.
