OXFORD – The Oxford High School Marching Yellow Jackets will be seeing green in March – lots of green.The band will perform in the 245th St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City, said band director Chris Pennington.
His band of 170, made up of Oxford High School students and eighth graders from Oxford Middle School, will be part of 160,000 marchers who participate in the annual parade.
More than 1.5 million watch the parade from the streets of New York. It will be shown on NBC’s local affiliate in the Big Apple.
"We’re very fortunate to be invited," Pennington said.
The band will perform four songs while marching – "You’re a Grand Old Flag," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," Alabama Jubilee," and "Alabamy Bound."
The Oxford City Board of Education unanimously approved the trip at its Monday meeting.
"I think it’s a great opportunity for the students in the band," Superintendent Jeff Goodwin said. "They’ll be representing our state."
One band from each state was invited to participate in the parade.
Pennington said the St. Patrick’s Day parade often can be a springboard to nationally televised parades like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Bowl Parade.
"It’s going to be a big trip for us," Pennington said.
Melissa Gober, a 10th grader who plays snare drum in the marching band, said she’s excited about the upcoming trip.
"I think it’ll be fun marching in something that big," Gober said.
The trip, which is March 15-20 is expected to cost $150,000. Pennington said band boosters are raising money to pay for the trip.
Andy Fancher, the band’s booster club president, said fund raising recently started with cookie sales.
"We expect we’ll be able to raise a lot of money," Fancher said. "Some people may sell enough cookies where it pays for the whole trip."
Fancher said it’s a great opportunity for students, including his daughters, Oxford junior Felicia and eighth-grader Jacquelyn.
"A lot of these kids may never get a chance to go back to New York," he said.
Jacquelyn Fancher, who plays clarinet, said it’ll be her first trip to New York and she can’t wait.
"I’m looking forward to seeing a Broadway show and performing on TV," she said.
The next Oxford City School Board meeting will be at 5 p.m. Oct. 24th at the board’s central office.
