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."

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 marching band at Western Carolina University has been chosen to march in the Tournament of Roses parade.

The New Year's Day extravaganza preceeds the Rose Bowl each year and is a serious accomplishment for a university marching band.

Now, I can't help wondering whether WCU will be the only North Carolina university represented in Pasadena. 

Hmm. The folks over at N.C. Central University in Durham are holding a press conference this morning. All they've said is that it involves the marching band.

Stay tuned.