The Mercer Island High School Marching Band will kick off its preparations for the 2019 Rose Parade presented by Honda with a celebration and fundraiser on Thursday, March 29th, from 5 to 8 pm in the Mercer Island High School (MIHS) commons and amphitheater.

The event coincides with the visit of 2019 Tournament of Roses President Gerald Freeny and his wife, Trina, to Mercer Island. The president annually visits the hometown of each band invited to participate in the Rose Parade. This will be the fourth appearance for the MIHS Band, with the most recent being in 2012.

“They will visit all our band classes, meet our students, our parents, our teachers, our administrators, and our Island residents,” said Parker Bixby, co-director of the MIHS band program with Kyle Thompson. “We will work to share with them both all the aspects of what makes our Island so special and unique. We invite the entire community to our kickoff celebration on March 29.”

President Freeny will present the Tournament of Roses banner to MIHS at the kickoff celebration, which will include plenty of Marching Band music, a silent auction, and a raffle. From 5:30 – 7:30 pm, there will be a Pagliacci Pizza Pig-Out in the Commons, with all proceeds going toward the MIHS Band.

The MIHS Marching Band is helping to support the Banda Escolar de Guayanilla (BEG) from Puerto Rico, a municipal band that was also chosen for the 2019 Rose Parade two weeks prior to the devastation of Hurricane Maria. BEG was founded in 1975 and serves its small community in south Puerto Rico. They have marched in four Rose Parades, including in 2012 with Mercer Island.

The MIHS band is sending five students, Bixby, and others to Guayanilla over spring break in April to build relationships with BEG’s student leadership and to assess how best to provide aid. The students are expected to meet with the Governor of Puerto Rico and Guayanilla civic leaders and will march and play with BEG in their annual festival.

The Mercer Island Band began raising funds for BEG with the sale of “Island to Island” bracelets which will also be available at the March 29th kickoff celebration. They will be accepting donations for the MIHS band as well.

About MIHS Marching Band
At more than 300 members, the Mercer Island High School band program is one of the largest in the state. The Marching Band performs at all MIHS home football games during the year as well as the MIHS Homecoming Parade.

For more information about the MIHS Marching Band, visit their website >>

About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®
The Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that hosts America’s New Year Celebration® with the Rose Parade® presented by Honda, the Rose Bowl Game® presented by Northwestern Mutual, and a variety of accompanying events. The association’s 935 volunteer members will drive the success of 130th Rose Parade, themed “The Melody of Life,” on Monday, January 1, 2019, followed by the 105th Rose Bowl Game.

For more information about the Tournament of Roses, visit their website >>

Download the flyer for this event here >>

Mercer Island High School is located at 9100 SE 42nd Street.