The N.C. Central University marching band's triumphant trip to the Tournament of Roses parade ended up costing a bit less than expected.

Still, the university wasn't able to raise the total sum through private donations. Thus, it used about $130,000 from a student fee account to cover the difference.

(photo courtesy nccueagles.smugmug.com)
The total cost was $430,950, far less than the $500,000 university officials had estimated after learning in late 2009 that it had earned the coveted invitation to the Jan. 1. parade in Pasadena, Calif.

NCCU then went on a huge, frantic fundraising drive, since sending hundreds of band members across the company with their uniforms, trumpets, flutes and tubas isn't cheap.

The university raised about $300,000 towards that effort. The difference, $129,345, was paid through student activity fees. That's a fee each student pays that funds a variety of student organizations and efforts like the band, student groups and intramural sports.

The $129,345 is a lot to shell out from that fund for one event, but Chancellor Charlie Nelms said its a perfectly suitable use of the money.

"There's a range of things it supports," he said of the student fee fund. "It's like your household budget. You might spend a little less on something and a little more on something, depending on your needs."

Jan. 1 is right around the corner, and the marching band at N.C. Central University is still a good bit short of the $500,000 needed to send its 300 members to California for the Tournament of Roses parade.

But NCCU officials say they band will go, even if the university has to find the money from other sources. But the fundraising effort is moving along, and officials are confident they'll be able to raise the needed money through corporate donations.

The parade is a very big deal for NCCU, which not long ago was a struggling enterprise with far too few members.

Here's an update.

N.C. Central University has gotten a big boost in its attempt to raise money for a trip to next year's Rose Bowl parade.

The NCCU marching band is trying to raise $500,000 for the trip to Pasadena, where they'll march in the Tournament of Roses parade New Year's Day.

The latest big splash: a donation from Walmart valued at $100,000, the largest gift to the effort.

(Photo courtesy NCCU)

The retail giant's transportation services division has offered to transport the band's instruments, equipment, luggage and uniforms to California. This is a big deal considering that about 250 band members are expected to make the trip.

On Christmas morning, Walmart will send two 18-wheelers to campus. The equipment will be loaded and driven west to California. After the parade, the equipment will be driven back.

"This gift is saving the university thousands in transportation costs," said LaTanya Afolayan, vice chancellor of institutional advancement.

Credit for the Walmart gift goes in part to James Dockery, an NCCU alum and member of the NCCU Foundation board. He used to work for Walmart, according to a university news release.

The Marching Sound Machine was one of 16 bands selected to perform at the parade. If you'd like more information, click here.
 

Meet Jorim Reid, NCCU's band director.

He's a quiet sort. He'd rather let the music do the talking, which is a fair strategy when you know music like he does.

When Reid took over as NCCU's band director in 2001, the marching band had all of 32 members. It is now 200 members strong and headed to the Rose Bowl parade next New Year's Day.

Reid is our Tar Heel of the Week. 

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.

The N.C. Central University Marching Sound Machine will march in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade.

Yes, this is a very big deal. Jorim Reid, the band's director, says it's one of the top three honors a marching band can snare, along with an invitation to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Trophy given each year to the top college or university band in the nation.

By the way, the band from Western Carolina University won that Sousa trophy and will march in Pasadena as well.

Reid took over as the NCCU band director in 2001. Then, there were 32 members. Things have changed. Reid expects to bring 250 to Pasadena. 

Though he's had success, Reid said he wouldn't have applied yet for the Tournament of Roses had not a parade committee member suggested that he do so.

"It was in the 15-year plan," he said. "I've only been here eight years, so we're ahead of schedule."

Next up for NCCU, a frantic fundraising campaign. The total cost of trip could run NCCU $500,000, no small task with public universities currently in budget-cut mode.

"What kind of fundraising will we have to do? Massive!" said Chancellor Charlie Nelms. "It's going to be a monumental task. But it's one that will embraced. It's a real honor for the state of North Carolina."

For many band members, the rose parade invitation came as a happy surprise.

"We didn't even know he applied for it," said Shannon Todd of Burlington, a 'dance girl' in the band. "We just try to do our best and then reap the benefits later. We want to be one of the best bands in the nation."

Read more on this story in Wednesday's Durham News.

As you may recall, the marching band over at N.C. Central University had hoped to be chosen to perform at President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration.

At a recent trustee meeting, members urged each other to pull whatever strings they could, badger as many lawmakers as possible, etc, in hopes of getting the coveted invite. 

Alas, it is not to be. 

At this link, you'll find the exhaustive list of bands, performers and other artists who will perform. There were about a dozen college marching bands chosen, but none from this state.

North Carolina's sole representative will be the Harding University High School Marching Band of Gold.

Yes, that's the correct name.

The high school is in Charlotte, and band organizers looking for some help raising money for the big trip to D.C.

The link above has the information.

The inauguration is Jan. 20.