The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA

Local News

March 16, 2010

Dalton band marches in Savannah parade

DALTON — Julia Spinetta is more excited than nervous to be performing Wednesday in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Savannah.

“We get to actually go and march in a real parade where there’s going to be so many bands,” the sophomore flutist gushed as she helped load the Dalton High School marching band’s gear onto one of two chartered buses Tuesday after school. “(Band director David) Henry actually wants to make us known like we were in the past.”

The DHS band marched at the 1965 inauguration of president Lyndon Johnson and in the 1987 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Henry graduated from DHS in 1978 and took over as band director in 2004.

“This is the first time we’ve been invited to go,” Henry said of the St. Patrick’s Day parade, the second largest St. Patty’s Day parade in the U.S., second only to one in New York.

Senior baritone player Hunter Ford said the parade should be “really fun.”

“It’s a big opportunity for us to get out and show who we are,” Ford said.

Sophomore baritone player Gregg McCurry said he’s a little nervous because of the crowds, but he’s also looking forward to being associated with such a famed parade.

“I’ve heard it’s kind of the Mardi Gras of Georgia,” he said.

Freshman tuba player Enrique Alvarez said the parade will last from about 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — a long time to march, but an experience he said will be worth it.

“It’s going to be very tiring because of the tuba being on my shoulder,” he added.

Henry said the parade will probably be broadcast only regionally on Savannah TV stations.

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