Marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade just wasn’t enough for Carter Vallone.
The Centerville High School senior, who is a member of the Centerville Jazz Band, auditioned and was selected to march with the Bands of America (BOA) Honor Band in the 2022 Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif. The parade begins at 11 a.m. EST on Jan. 1 and is broadcast live by several networks.
Vallone, who has been playing saxophone for seven years, said he auditioned for the Rose Parade because he really loves marching band and wanted to continue that experience as well as represent his community.
“Besides being able to march in the Rose Parade, I’m really looking forward to meeting other band members from across the United States,” he said. “One big highlight will also be a performance in Disneyland. I’m really looking forward to that too.”
Brandon Barrometti, the band director at Centerville High School, said the CHS band family is excited to watch Vallone’s performance.
“We are so proud that Carter has been selected for this awesome opportunity to perform in the BOA Honor Band in the Rose Parade,” Barrometti said. “He is a great representation of our band program, and this is a huge honor for him to be a part of such a prestigious group of young musicians. He is also one of the few people who can say that he marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Parade back-to-back! We will be cheering him on, along with all of the other performers on New Year’s Day!”
Vallone said marching in the Macy’s Parade was an amazing experience. “My favorite part of being in the Centerville Jazz Band is the community and sense of togetherness,” he said. “I’ve made so many friends and have been fortunate to have had so many different opportunities.”
He plans to double major in Jazz Performance and Music Education in college and is currently auditioning for admission at several schools.
The 300-piece, national BOA Honor Band will be directed by Richard Saucedo, Director of Bands (retired) of the Grand National Champion Carmel High School in Indiana, leading a staff of music educators. David Starnes, Director of Orchestras at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Georgia, is the Program Coordinator. The BOA Honor Band marched in the 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017 Rose Parade. In 2009, they were part of the Rose Parade’s President’s Award-winning entry. Visit https://marching.musicforall.org/rose/ for more information.
Centerville City Schools serve about 8,200 students in Centerville and Washington Township in southwest Ohio, offering a variety of educational programs to a diverse student population. The district operates 13 school buildings, as well as two preschools and a bus facility with more than 120 school buses that transport students daily to public and non-public schools. Visit www.centerville.k12.oh.us for more information.
Original source can be found here.
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