Texas High School Tiger Band Selected to Perform in Presidential Inauguration Parade
A local high school marching band has been selected out of several organizations to perform in the Presidential Inauguration Parade. Texas High School’s Tiger Band is practicing their marching and playing in anticipation of performing in a parade that only happens once every four years. Band booster treasurer Jason Carter said he learned of the parade and thought it would be a bucket list item for the kids. Band director Arnie Lawson chimed in, “We love parades!”
Carter said he began planning for the parade as an idea back in August and linked with Hooks, Texas, mayor Mark Reiter to get help with the paperwork. Reiter is also the proprietor of the travel company Unique Travels & Tours. “Mr. Lawson did a great write-up covering our awards, our accolades … and I sent a video of us marching in a parade. You’re constantly sending things in, and they ask for more information and tell you, ‘OK, sit tight. We’ll let you know,’” Carter said.
Lawson and Carter learned of the band’s selection for the parade during Christmas break, and the director told band students through a school-authorized messaging app at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. “I sent out a ‘Remind’ to the kids with a longer letter and a video from our congressman,” Lawson said. The video had Representative Nathaniel Moran on his front porch, surrounded by Christmas decorations, congratulating the students on their upcoming performance and their achievement. “I just heard some great news! I know where I’m going to be January 20, 2025, but guess what? I heard you’re going to be at the same place,” Moran said in the video. “I cannot wait to see you guys in Washington, D.C., to be part of the inaugural ceremonies and marching down the street.”
Carter said his son, who plays in the drumline, was in a state of disbelief, as were his son’s classmates. “I had not even told my son it was coming out,” Carter said. “It was like a little wildfire throughout the band, everybody texting each other.”
Carter said the band is in the process of fundraising for the trip, which will cost approximately $300,000 for transportation and hotel rooms, as well as a few fun excursions for the band members. Carter said that since the Monday, January 6, board meeting, the band has raised over $20,000 towards the trip.
Grayson Merriman, a sophomore trumpet player for the Tiger Band, said he thought it was “pretty cool” that the band was selected to perform. He said he was looking forward to visiting the Pentagon. The trumpet player’s mother, Amber, who was selected to chaperone the trip, said seeing the kids’ reaction to learning the news was exciting for her. “This is something once in a lifetime. It may never happen again,” she said. “I think I’m most excited to experience that with these kids.”
The Presidential Inauguration Parade will be televised on Monday, January 20, at an unannounced time on C-SPAN.
To learn more about the Texas High Band Boosters’ efforts to raise funds for the trip, contact [email protected] or click here to donate.
