PALESTINE —
Elliot “Eli” West, a junior at Palestine High School, has been selected by Music for All to be a member of the Bands of America Honor Band on the 2013 Tournament of Roses® Parade.
West, the son of Robert and Holly West of Montalba, was selected from among hundreds of applicants across the nation for membership in the prestigious national honor band.
His band directors are Andrew Chybowski and Matthew Reimer.
The BOA Honor Band is a 325-piece national ensemble with winds, percussion and a flag and dance team. Bob Buckner, who recently retired at director of the Western Carolina University “Pride of the Mountains” Marching Band, will direct the 2013 BOA Honor Band.
Bands of America is a program of Music for All, one of the nation’s largest and most influential organizations in support of active music making.
West, a trumpet player for the PHS Wildcat Band, will spend a week in southern California, where he will have rehearsals, performances at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest and Disneyland, special activities and a featured appearance in the world famous parade.
The 124th Rose Parade® presented by Honda and themed, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” will take place at 8 a.m. PST (10 a.m. CST) on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. The 5.5-miles parade (which is often referred to as the Rose Bowl Parade) will be broadcast on ABC, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, KTLA (Tribune), NBC, RFD-TV and Univision. The parade also is seen in more than 220 international territories and countries.
“To be selected for this unique opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these students and a testimony to their excellence and achievements,” MFA President and CEO Eric Martin said. “Each student is one of only 325 members chosen to be part of the Bands of America Honor Band, and their participation deserves the admiration and support of everyone in their community.
“The Rose Parade® is one of our country’s national pageantry treasures, and the 2013 Honor Band members will be ambassadors of America’s bands, and of their states and communities.”
This will mark the third time Music for All’s Bands of America Honor Band has performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade®. The BOA Honor Band also performed in the parade in 2005 and 2009, when it was part of the President’s Award-winning entry created with NAMM and Sesame Street Workshop.
Community garage sale planned
Many residents along the 15-mile stretch that is FM 323 will be hosting a highway-wide garage sale beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6.
The road, which runs from U.S. 84 E. to FM 294 and includes the communities of Hickory Hill and Alderbranch, will be “sprinkled” with garage sales up and down.
“We have 20-25 families participating so far,” sale organizer and resident Joyce Allen said Wednesday. “Some will be going together on sales.”
The first sale will be located just one mile from its start from U.S. 84 E., with many more scattered along the way. All residents on FM 323 are welcome to participate in the sale.
“When you leave one sale, don’t give up,” Allen said. “Just keep on moving down the road.”
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Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com
Local News
OUR TOWN: Area student to perform with Bands of America in Rose Parade
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