MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (WKRC) – The Middletown High School marching band is preparing for the performance of a lifetime.
Vice President-elect JD Vance invited them to play at the Inaugural Parade, which means it’s crunch time for the Middletown High School Middies band. In just a few days, the marching band, cheerleaders, and color guard will head to Washington, D.C.
“We have these last couple [of] rehearsals. We’re kind of pushing the envelope to get them ready, but they’re doing a great job, and they’re working hard, and I think they’re going to look and sound great,” said Middletown High School Band Director David Leisten.
They were invited in early December and are still pinching themselves. For some, it’s their first time visiting the nation’s capital.
“I never thought that we would get this big of an opportunity,” said freshman color guard Amir King.
“It makes you nervous to think about going to D.C. because it’s so far away from home,” said freshman flute player Makayla Pringle.
It’s been a whirlwind for the Middies, who had to raise $140,000 for travel expenses, get their routine down within weeks, and work around the cold. Tuesday was their first time marching together outside.
“Anytime we’re playing, we’re getting better. So, this has been an opportunity to grow as musicians and as performers,” Leisten said.
Leisten added that he’s proud of the upperclassmen helping the students who’ve never marched in a parade. Some of the musicians have been bringing their instruments home to practice and memorize the music. They want to give a performance that’ll make Middletown proud.
“If they see our purple uniforms, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, I saw them on the TV,’ like, ‘On the TV at the parade,’ and be like, ‘Oh, that’s Middletown.’ So, I think since we are such a small area, other places outside of Ohio might recognize us now, which would be really nice,” said freshman flute player Izzabella Adkins.
The band will perform “America Sweet Land of Liberty” and the school’s fight song. They have one more practice before they leave for D.C. on Sunday morning.