Bailey Middle School Band Students to Play Inaugural Festival Jan. 19

Students in the Bailey Middle School Wind Ensemble will represent the 果冻传媒app Independent School District and the State of Texas this weekend when they perform at the 2013 Inaugural Festival in Washington, D.C. 

The ensemble was handpicked to perform Jan. 19, just days before the historic Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 21, which coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

Following their performance at the Annapolis Area Christian School Kerr Center for the Arts, the students will visit historic sites in the nation鈥檚 capital city and attend the Inauguration before returning to 果冻传媒app on Tuesday.   

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity to go to D.C., but to see something as unique as a Presidential Inauguration鈥攏o matter who they support for president鈥攊s an incredible experience,鈥 said Bailey Middle School Band Director Bill Haehnel. 鈥淒uring the Inauguration on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, [the students] will be on the very site where Dr. King gave his most famous speech, and it will be a very unique and special experience for them.鈥

The students have been practicing and fundraising for the performance since they were invited to play in April.

Despite being a part of the national spotlight, Saturday鈥檚 performance is not the band鈥檚 first high-profile showcase. In past years, the band has performed at the National Adjudicator鈥檚 Invitational in Atlanta and the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, Haehnel said.

While in D.C., the 61-student ensemble will perform three songs: 鈥淪emper Fidelis March鈥 by John Philip Sousa, 鈥淪heltering Sky鈥 by John Mackey, and 鈥淪ummer Dances鈥 by Brian Balmages.

鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of the students. They have a great work ethic and will represent our campus, district and state very well,鈥 Haehnel said.