Brother Rice-Mother McAuley Band D.C.-Bound to March in National July 4th Parade

The Brother Rice and Mother McAuley Marching Band has been selected as the only high school marching band to represent the State of Illinois in America’s National Independence Day Parade on July 4.

Almost 100 members of the band will leave on Tuesday, July 1, to travel to Washington, D.C., to perform in the parade. In preparation for the once-in-a-lifetime honor, the students have been diligently practicing over the summer. The band has also been invited to be part of the audience of the PBS Concert at the Capitol Building featuring the National Symphony Orchestra and one of the country's largest fireworks displays.

America's National Independence Day Parade takes place annually on July 4th in Washington, D.C., on Constitution Avenue before a street audience of hundreds of thousands of spectators. The Parade consists of invited bands, fife and drum corps, floats, military and specialty units, giant balloons, equestrian, drill teams, VIP's, national dignitaries and celebrity participants.

In addition, both schools have been asked to be the presenter at Arlington Cemetery for the presentation of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Each student from McAuley and Rice, winners of a blind essay contest, will do the actual laying of the wreath.

The Brother Rice and Mother McAuley Marching Band is comprised of students from both high schools and has quadrupled in size over the last four years under the direction of Daniel Briggs at Brother Rice High School and Anthony Rallis at Mother McAuley High School. In the fall, the thriving music program will welcome approximately 180 students into an unprecedented four music classes including Beginning Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band and the newly formed Philharmonic Band.

Source: Brother Rice/Mother McAuley High School