Mississippi College officials are seeking public support to help fund a trip for the school’s Choctaw Marching Band to represent the state in the upcoming America250 Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C.
The marching band was selected as Mississippi’s lone representative in the festivities scheduled for July 4. But before a group of students and staffers can commit to going, financial assistance is needed. Duval Salvant, the director of bands at Mississippi College (MC), is looking to take 60-70 band members to the nation’s capital, though he says the estimated cost for each participant to go on the trip is around $2,100.
“My goal is to have about 60-70 members marching down Historic Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., made up of current students and alumni,” Salvant told SuperTalk Mississippi News.
To fund this venture, school officials have organized a raffle offering a five-night trip for two to Hawaii. Tickets are available online for $20 each or six for $100, and the winner will be announced on March 1 at the Symphonic Winds Concert in Swor Auditorium of MC’s Clinton campus.
The parade will take place along Constitution Avenue in the nation’s capital, after the band went through an audition process. The process was facilitated by Music Celebrations International, a travel company that coordinates performances for school music ensembles, including national parades, festivals, and international tours.
“As unimpressive as it sounds, a travel company, Music Celebrations International, sent an email to schools all over the country asking if directors were interested in applying for this parade,” Salvant said. “I simply answered an email. Now, of course, we were required to audition and be accepted, but we all know the early bird gets the worm.”
Salvant said the opportunity provides a national platform for both the university and its students.
“This is literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students and university,” Salvant said. “MCI wanted to find one band from each state to be represented in the parade. We are the Mississippi representative for the entire country.”
The Choctaw Marching Band, which was revived in 2019 after being previously inactive due to not having enough members, is expected to include current students and alumni for the parade. The band plans to perform an original march composed by Dr. James Sclater, an MC music professor, to help honor the university’s bicentennial.
“He is composing an original march for the ensemble to honor MC’s bicentennial,” Salvant said. “It will debut at our Symphonic Winds concert on April 19, but we will also be playing it in Washington, D.C.”
Salvant said he hopes trips like this will continue to benefit students and the program in the future.
“Trips like this stay with students forever. It is not just an accolade for the university, but each student will create their own memories to share about their trip to Mississippi College,” he said. “I hope to do a large trip like this every few years. It is a great recruitment tool and always something for students to look forward to when participating in a collegiate band.”