FYI
PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- Among the participants in the
Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena you can always find a
number of bands. This year, for the first time in the parade's
history, a band of blind musicians will march.
With three days to go until New Year's Day, band members like Sam
Shepherd are working to get the kinks out.
"Can't wait for Friday though. Friday, this is what we've been
working for this year," said Shepherd.
His school's marching band will be one of only a select few
handpicked to perform in the Rose Parade -- and they'll do it
completely blind.
The 32-member marching band from the Ohio State School for the
Blind is the only blind marching band in the country. They hail
from Columbus, Ohio. Freshly flown in this week, they've been
practicing their Rose Bowl routine at Diamond Bar High School.
Each member will march with a marching assistant guiding them
down Colorado Boulevard's 5-mile stretch.
"I just get behind Marty and push him on and he does it, he
does what he has to do and he does it, they all do," said
marching assistant Eunice Penrod.
Penrod is her grandson's guide and she says the kids pretty
much have this down to a science. In fact, parents like Paula
Shepherd say it's the marching assistants who will have the
biggest butterflies come New Year's Day.
"For those of us who have sight, it's nerve-racking," said
Shepherd. "For the kids, they have no stage fright, so this is
-- they're excited, they get pumped when they hear how large the
crowds are."
The band has had plenty of practice. Together since 2005,
they've benefitted from annual summer sessions at Ohio State
University with the Buckeyes teaching them different steps and
techniques.
The kids took a rare break at Diamond Bar High School Tuesday
-- rare because since they found out 14 months ago they were
going to be in this Friday's Rose Parade, it has been nonstop
practice.
"One of my favorite things is 'Let's do it one more time1'
'Let's do it again so it looks right and it sounds right1'" said
the band's co-director, Dan Kelley.
From field practice and marching to music rehearsals and sound
logistics, this talented group of high-schoolers is looking to
impress and inspire an international audience.
Marsha
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