Staff writer, with CNA
Taipei First Girls’ High School’s marching band is to perform again in Los Angeles’ annual Rose Parade after an 18-year hiatus.
At the invitation of the parade’s organizer, a team of 135 students and teachers from the school’s marching band, honor guard and color guard is to depart for the US on Dec. 27, the school said in a statement yesterday.
The annual parade is held prior to the Rose Bowl, one of the most prominent postseason fixtures in US college football.
Photo courtesy of the General Association of Chinese Culture
The 134th Rose Parade is to be held on Jan. 2, one day after New Year’s Day in keeping with the “Never on Sunday” tradition kept since 1893, the nonprofit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association said.
The school said its marching band, honor guard and color guard — established more than 60 years ago — are often invited to participate in major competitions and celebratory performances at home and abroad.
The last time the students appeared at the Rose Parade was in 2005, after participating in 1996.
The General Association of Chinese Culture will be assisting the team with planning the US trip, the school said.
The team is to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the Presidential Office tomorrow, the school said.