Maiden High band selected to march in national July 4 parade

Nearly 100 students from Maiden High School will do more than watch fireworks with friends in Catawba County this July 4.

The school's band is selected as North Carolina's sole representative to participate in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington.

Maiden High band director Chris Caldwell learned the school was nominated in May, along with two other schools in the state.

"I shared the news with Principal Finger," Caldwell said. "We were so excited. This is a big deal even to be nominated in the same breath with the other two schools when we're just starting out."

The committee selecting the band asked for biographical information on the school, photos and a recording of the band performing. Caldwell did, and learned this fall that Maiden was selected to be in the parade on July 4.

Only one band from each state is selected to perform in the National Independence Day Parade.

This is Caldwell's second year as band instructor at Maiden High School. He said prior to coming to the program, the band program was not as active as it could have been. When he came to the program last year, the school's band had 38 students. This year, there are about 95 students, Caldwell said.

Maiden was selected as North Carolina's representative because he continues to set high expectations for his students, he said.

"We expect the best," Caldwell said. "The kids are capable of a lot more than people give them credit for. When you set a bar that's high, kids will either reach it or do their best trying to reach it."

Senior Seth Collie said he couldn't believe it when Caldwell shared the news with his students.

"Everybody was excited," he said. "We're the only school from the state. That's not an opportunity you get every day."

Collie plays the snare drum and has been with the school's band for four years. Although he will have graduated by the time the school goes to Washington, D.C., for the parade, he said he still plans to attend.

So does senior Jacob Richard, 17. He, too, has been in the band for four years, playing the alto sax.

"I'm really excited," Richard said. "This is a huge honor for this band and this town."

Richard said when he marches down Constitution Avenue on July 4, he hopes he gets a glimpse of the president. He's also excited about watching the fireworks on the Mall and hearing the National Symphony concert.

He said he thinks the program will give him practice, as well.

"I'm going into the music education department next year at Western Carolina, and I hope this experience will help me," Richard said. "I'm really looking forward to it."

Before they get to march in the parade, though, the school must raise $42,000 for the students to go on the trip. This cost covers the school's three days in Washington, including the bus transportation, lodging, meals, a guide, a nighttime tour of the city, the parade entrance fees and a DVD of the parade. Caldwell said it amounts to about $500 per student.

"It's a high cost, but it's an attainable goal," he said. "We have so many fundraisers going on right now. Most of the students have taken the fundraisers seriously, and several students have asked that their family help fund the trip as their Christmas or birthday presents."

Caldwell said students have paid about $10,000 to $15,000 into their individual costs so far, and the students have raised about $1,000 for the band as a whole. They are getting ready to do several other fundraisers specifically aimed to raise money for the trip, Caldwell said.

"If we can knock that down to even $400 or $425 per student, that would make a big difference," he said. "It's an optional trip, but we would love for everyone to go."

Caldwell said he would especially like the graduating seniors to make the trip, because they have seen the band do a complete about-face in the past four years.

He also would like to take his students to Washington, since many have never been there.

"Many are excited to get out of the state and go to the capital of the U.S.," Caldwell said. "I think it's important that we go and see the monuments and stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial."

WANT TO DONATE?
Call Chris Caldwell at Maiden High School, at 428-8179, or mail a donation to Chris Caldwell, P.O. Box 648, Maiden, N.C. 28650. Make checks addressed to MHS band boosters, and write "Washington trip" in the subject line. You can also go to www.bandsofmaiden.org. There will be a Paypal link on the Web site soon.