Torrington High School Marching Band “The Pride of Torrington”

How THS was Selected

•  Music Celebrations International received an unsolicited recommendation about us from the University of New Haven Band Director.

•  That recommendation along with our resume of 2 National Parades (2006 National Cherry Blossom and 2010 National Independence Day) along with numerous other 1st Place Best Appearing High School Band Awards was brought to the attention of the parade committee at Music Celebrations International.

About the Parade •  First held in 1920, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade has a

vibrant legacy as the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in America. Organizers strive to make the parade “the most band-friendly parade in the country”

•  The parade has 19 spots for marching bands each year and it accepts bands consisting of 100 members or more.

•  The 1.4-mile parade route steps off from the intersection of 20th Street and JFK Boulevard, turns left onto 16th Street and then left onto Ben Franklin Parkway. The telecast area is located near the end of the route, directly in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The parade is aired live on channel 6abc and is syndicated to various markets east of the Mississippi. The parade can also be viewed as a live webcast on 6abc.com.

National exposure

•  The parade is aired live on channel 6abc and is syndicated to various markets east of the Mississippi. The parade can also be viewed as a live webcast on 6abc.com.

•  There is NO guarantee that THS will be on TV or the webcast on 6abc.com

•  If we can accept we would be the first high school band from CT to participate in the parade.

Bands in the parade

•  They compete for a living!

•  Rehearse 5 -6 days a week & compete every weekend

•  Staff of instructors that work with the band

•  Trophy cases full of Superior Ratings

•  Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Grand Champion Awards

•  Travel the US and Europe

Preparing for A National parade

Hard Work from Day 1 until the Parade!

Practice, Practice, Practice!

No excuses! No “I can’t because I have…………..”

No extra rehearsals will be needed. Tuesday Nights just won’t be cut down to 1 Hour after North Adams.

Hold your heads high! You are “The Pride of Torrington”

100% Commitment from everyone at all times!

Best compliment ever •  2010 National Independence Day Parade Washington, D.C.

•  In talking with another Band Director

“WOW you guys look great! You must be a competition Band”

When I told him we rehearsed one day a week for 2 ½ hours with no staff.

“That is simply amazing! I wish my band could look like that with such little

rehearsing! We rehearse 5 days a week with a 5 person staff ”

Anything is possible when we ALL work hard!

AT THIS POINT

•  NO MONEY HAS BEEN SUBMITTED

•  PARADE IS TENTATIVELY HOLDING A SPOT FOR US

•  NO PENALTY IF WE CAN NOT ACCEPT INVITATION

Cost

• Between $460 to $520 per person

• This will depend on band enrollment

• Enrollment could be between 95 to 140

COST INCLUDES

•  Parade Registration Fee

•  Round Trip Transportation

•  Hotel Accommodations

•  4 meals throughout the trip

•  Tour Guides on each bus entire time in PA

•  Official Parade Package - T-Shirt, Pin and Patch

•  Tips, Taxes and Gratuities

•  $2M MCI Tour Liability Insurance

Payment Schedule

•  $50 per person by Friday May 3

•  25% per person, of total tour cost by Friday June 7

•  35% per person, of total tour cost by Friday Sept 6

•  Final Payment Trips paid in FULL – Friday Oct 4 Checks payable to THS CENTRAL TREASURY ALL payments in envelope sealed and labeled with child’s name

Itinerary day 1

•  Wednesday November 27

•  Morning departure for Philadelphia, PA

•  Lunch (on own)

•  Late Afternoon check in at Hotel

•  Time Permitting: Orientation tour of Philadelphia

•  Dinner (Included)

•  Return to hotel

Itinerary day 2

•  Thursday November 28

•  Breakfast (Included)

•  Participate in Thanksgiving Day Parade

•  Lunch (on own)

•  Sightseeing

•  Dinner (Included)

•  Return to hotel

Itinerary day 3

•  Friday November 29

•  Breakfast (Included)

•  Sightseeing

•  Lunch (on own)

•  7:00pm approximate arrival at THS

weather

•  The parade will proceed rain, snow or sun!

•  No refunds will be given for inclement weather.

•  2006 National Cherry Blossom was in pouring rain.

•  2010 National Independence Day was 92 degrees

Vote

• Student’s name

• Circle YES OR NO

• Need 100 to accept invitation