Wisconsin Northwoods marching band will play in Rose Bowl parade
The annual Rose Bowl Parade is viewed by millions of people around the world and has become an iconic part of New Year’s Day celebrations.
This year, the D.C. Everest Senior High Marching Band and seven other area high school programs will take part in this historic event and perform together as the Wisconsin Northwoods Marching Band.
The nearly 400-member Northwoods band will be the second largest marching band to ever perform for the Rose Parade, second only to Allen High School Marching Band from Texas in 2016, which had 716 members.
Students will march along the 5.5-mile parade route in front of nearly one million attendees from around the world.
Amy Wainscott, the 2023 Pasadena Tournament of Roses president, announced the theme this year is “Turning the Corner.”
Explained Wainscott, “Turning a corner means rising above – alone, or with family, friends and community. This year, as we turn the corner together, we share in the hope, beauty and joy of what 2023 will bring.”
Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who made a remarkable recovery from traumatic injuries, will serve as the 2023 Grand Marshal.
Joe Finnegan, DCE Senior High Band instructor, notes the student-musicians are ready to celebrate turning the corner as well.
“The last couple of years, student-musicians across the country have dealt with the challenges presented by COVID — sometimes having to rely on digital platforms to practice and perform together.”
“Our students have persevered and risen to the challenge — honing their skills so they can proudly represent the state of Wisconsin on January 2.”
One of the ways in which students will showcase their state is through a unique musical composition crafted by Joe Finnegan and legendary (now retired) Mike Leckrone, director of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band. The musical piece, “Beautiful Wisconsin,” celebrates our nation and Wisconsin, and is a combination of “On Wisconsin” and “America the Beautiful.” Leckrone composed the woodwind and brass portions of the piece while Finnegan composed the percussion portion.
The Wisconsin Northwoods Marching Band is composed of student-musicians from Antigo, Lakeland, D.C. Everest, Merrill, Mosinee, Northland Pines, Three Lakes and Wausau East.
The president of the Rose Bowl Parade, Amy Wainscott, is a graduate of Northland Pines High School in Eagle River and played a critical role in the formation of the Northwoods Marching Band. The Wisconsin musicians will join 20 other marching bands in the 134th Rose Bowl Parade.
Students have been practicing and performing since February 2021 to prepare for the 2023 Roses Parade. The past two summers, they have completed whirlwind tours of northern Wisconsin — performing in five parades on July 4th in 2021, and six parades on July 4th in 2022.
They also have been working diligently to raise funds for the trip, which costs about $2,500 per student.
