Instruments in hand, the Kelly Steam Magnet Middle school band proudly marched in Norwich’s Memorial Day Parade Monday, the first time since budget cuts in 2010 disbanded the program.
The 35 students were excited to represent their school and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“It’s my very first parade. I’m really excited,” said seventh-grader Taina Delva.
Band Director Allison Beit said budget cuts forced the district to cut the middle school band program in 2010. The program has been back for three years now.
Superintendent Abby Dolliver told NBC Connecticut the Norwich Public Schools Education Foundation even donated funds to have the old instruments cleaned up and updated.
Hard work and a lot of warming up brought them to Monday’s parade and the start of the march.
“It’s really exciting to accompany everyone else, make everybody else feel comfortable, have a teammate by your side,” Delva said.
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It was 13-year-old Serenity Moore’s first parade – and first performance with the band. She started late in the year.
“It’s exciting because a bunch of people are going to see us going down the street and it’s nervous because a bunch of people are going to see us going down the street,” Moore said.
Beit said she wants to get the students out in the community and it took time to prepare.
“We outside to the track outside. We had to assemble the whole group together to practice what marching and playing is like since it’s so different from sitting down,” Beit explained.
“You have to practice and memorize the notes and stuff,” seventh-grader Danny Rosa-Ortiz added.
Many of the students have performed before at school concerts and in small groups at other community events. Beit said they’re hoping to do more events like the parade.
