Benicia Band in Big Parade
By Corey Lyons
Contra Costa Newspapers
Nov. 29, 2004
It's a tuba player's big moment, a drummer's dream gig.
The Tournament of Roses, the venerable parade in Pasadena with a history that reaches back to the 1890s, is the pinnacle for many marching bands.
In Benicia, it is becoming a tradition of sorts.
Next year, the decorated Benicia High School band will participate in the prestigious celebration for the second time.
The 110-member crew, crisp and talented, will blare its wares in front of some 800,000 spectators at the 116th-annual Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2005.
Benicia High, the lone band selected from Northern California, will make its second trip to the big show since 2001.
"I feel more excited this time," said Roxanna Macheel, the high school's veteran band director. "It seems like a miracle to be selected a second time for such a little town and a little school."
Macheel, who led the band to the ritzy event three years ago, received the big call Wednesday night. Benicia, she was told, was invited to join 24 other bands to march in the 5«-mile parade.
The tournament's 35-member music committee had reviewed 100 applications across America, then settled on 25.
The Benicia band, Macheel said, will later start working on "a medley of fun little songs," three or four of which will be repeated over and over during the march.
Karen Burmark's 17-year-old daughter, Katelynn, will play the flute for Benicia during the parade.
There has been a lot of "jumping up and down and screaming," her mother said, since word spread about the latest honor bestowed upon the local musicians.
"I used to say, well, it's just another parade," Burmark said. "Not now. It's very cool."
Contra Costa Newspapers
Nov. 29, 2004
It's a tuba player's big moment, a drummer's dream gig.
The Tournament of Roses, the venerable parade in Pasadena with a history that reaches back to the 1890s, is the pinnacle for many marching bands.
In Benicia, it is becoming a tradition of sorts.
Next year, the decorated Benicia High School band will participate in the prestigious celebration for the second time.
The 110-member crew, crisp and talented, will blare its wares in front of some 800,000 spectators at the 116th-annual Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2005.
Benicia High, the lone band selected from Northern California, will make its second trip to the big show since 2001.
"I feel more excited this time," said Roxanna Macheel, the high school's veteran band director. "It seems like a miracle to be selected a second time for such a little town and a little school."
Macheel, who led the band to the ritzy event three years ago, received the big call Wednesday night. Benicia, she was told, was invited to join 24 other bands to march in the 5«-mile parade.
The tournament's 35-member music committee had reviewed 100 applications across America, then settled on 25.
The Benicia band, Macheel said, will later start working on "a medley of fun little songs," three or four of which will be repeated over and over during the march.
Karen Burmark's 17-year-old daughter, Katelynn, will play the flute for Benicia during the parade.
There has been a lot of "jumping up and down and screaming," her mother said, since word spread about the latest honor bestowed upon the local musicians.
"I used to say, well, it's just another parade," Burmark said. "Not now. It's very cool."
posted by Corey at 8:57 PM
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