In today's Durham News, more on the recent selection of N.C. Central University's Marching Sound Machine band to perform in the 2011 Tournament of Roses.
That's the New Year's Day Rose Bowl parade, one prong of the holy trinity of achievement for marching bands. (Also coveted: a slot in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Trophy recognizing the best band in the land.
In inviting the NCCU band to the big bash, the parade's director, Stacy Houser, wrote to band director Jorim Reid that the band was chosen because of "excellent musical talents, entertainment value, performance skills, efforts and your outstanding directorship."
Some factoids on the parade, in case you're thinking of going:
* The parade is held in Pasadena, Calif.
* It starts at 8 a.m. local time. The route is about 5.5 miles and the parade lasts about 2.5 hours.
*The parade draws about 40 million television viewers each year.
Click here for more on the parade.
