GREENSBORO, N.C. — Ahead of North Carolina A&T's homecoming, we're celebrating all the things that make the school so great! You can't talk homecoming without the Blue & Gold Marching Machine!
After the big game this weekend, the band will turn their sights to a big trip soon - they are heading to Pasadena to play in the Rose Bowl parade!
The band members are really excited about the opportunity.
"It's like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go all the way to California. Before I was in the band I never traveled, I've never done anything like this, so it's a very good opportunity," Drum Major Camrahn Jamison said.
Band member Isaiah Tatum said he joined the band during the pandemic and didn't think he'd get the chance to do things like this.
"I'm used to band with having lots of masks and separate parts of the band, so just having a full band and having the chance to travel is just an amazing opportunity I never thought I would have," Tatum said.
He said it's one of those things that he's been thinking about all year and keeping him motivated.
"This will actually be my fourth year in band, my third year in leadership, second year as Drumline captain, so for my final 'hoo-rah' to be going to the Rose Bowl Parade is really a great way to cap it off," Tatum added.
In order to make this trip happen, they need the community's help with fundraising.
"We are trying to raise about $2 million because we charter a plane and of course, you're taking 250-300 people out to California," Director of University Bands, Dr. Kenneth Ruff said. "They can help by just sending money to the University in the name of the band program."
Ruff said it's an opportunity every director wants to give their students.
"Some of my students haven't traveled, I haven't even ridden on a plane yet so this will give them the opportunity and I get to see what California is like and then we get to actually perform something that we love to do, it's going to be great," Ruff said.
The last time the band was featured in a major parade was back in 2012 when they marched in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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