Wausau Bands to Play at Rose Parade in California

Friday, July 1st, 2022 -- 10:00 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) Eight Central and Northern Wisconsin schools officially accepted their invitations to participate in the 20-23 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California during a ceremony in Wausau on Thursday.

According to Mike Leischner of WSAU, Wausau East Band Director Rob Perkins says it's the result of years of work. “I had a good friend who taught at one of the schools who thought it would be great to invite Wausau East to be part of this. This originally started off as Great Northern Conference School and then expanded out to pretty much anyone who was interested in our area.”

He says it's a great reward for a group of kids that had COVID-19 interrupt their traditional learning experience the last couple of years. “We’re looking for moments of happiness in this world and so, as we put together all of this work, what we’re about to hear as they march is just a moment of happiness. That makes this all so much fun.”

He says the group started practicing last year and plans to ramp up their schedule leading up to the January 2nd event. “Five hour rehearsals this summer with the 4th of July circuit this coming Monday. And then we will have monthly three hour rehearsals from now until November and then we’re going to pick it up to weekly as we get into December.”

He adds that this year's Tournament of Roses President and Chairman Amy Wainscott, a graduate of Northland Pines, also played a role. “Having something for her year as president to represent her area. And then it started to spread throughout some of the smaller schools in the northwoods and then it spread to larger schools down here in Wausau with Everest and East.”

Other schools that will make up the Northwoods Marching Band will include Three Lakes, Northland Pines, Antigo, Merrill, DC Everst, Lakeland Union, and Mosinee. A total of 430 students will be participating, Perkins adds it's the first time the Tournament of Roses has ever invited a group of schools to participate under the same banner.

The group will be playing an original arrangement by former UW Bands Director Mike Lechrum.

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