KALISPELL – Glacier High School’s band is representing Montana in the 2019 National Memorial Day parade in Washington D.C.
Band Director David Barr tells MTN the band was hand selected by Senator Steve Daines.
As the only band from Montana going to the parade, Director Barr tells MTN it’s been months and months of practice. Barr says the band will practice after and before school and during classes.
“We’ve been 24/7 practicing our parade set and our routine for when we’re in front of the TV cameras in D.C. and how we’re going to do the rest of the parade,” explains Barr.
Barr tells MTN the band will play, the “America Forever March,” Glacier High School’s fight song and as a nod to “Montana” the state song.
Glaicer Junior Brooklynn Pitts is excited to go back to Washington DC. Pitts first went to DC as a little girl and doesn’t remember much. During her down time, she’s excited to tour the city and see the various monuments. With only a few days left of rehearsals, Pitts recollects on her best band memories.
“Once you start playing together and start really fine tuning it, it’s just such a different feel to it. You feel like you’re a band, you’re connected and you’re playing amazing music and it’s an amazing experience,” says Pitts.
Flying to Washington D.C will be long and some students have never been on a plane before. While junior Jocelyn Kuhl has been on a plane, she tells MTN one of her friends hasn’t and is already nervous.
“A friend of mine has never been on a plane before she’s very very nervous, so but I think she’ll be fine,” says Kuhl.
If you’re interested in watching Glacier High School band Barr suggests streaming the parade online.
Reporting by Maren Siu for MTN News
