The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the Bahamas All Star Marching Band have been invited for the third time to perform at a major event on international grounds.

Next month the band will make its way to Washington, DC to perform at the Howard University Home Coming Parade. The band’s history making performance at the Florida Blue Classics in 2012 and 2011 opened the door for its participation in the DC competition on October 26, from 11am to 6pm.

To meet the financial requirements for the trip, the band is hosting the All Stars Day fundraising event on Saturday. The event is an open rehearsal, and people will get a taste of what the band will bring to the competition.

All Stars Day will be a family fun-day for all ages, displaying the positive activities taking place among the young members in the group and other musical groups.

“We would like to give the general public a chance to meet and learn what this wonderful organisation is all about. We also want to attract potential donors who wish to support our non-profit youth organisation with the purchase of musical instruments, uniforms and other training equipment,” said Yonell Justillien, founder of the group.

The band rehearses three days out of the week for three hours and is also working on music, dance, and choreography.

“Our performance will be one of high energy full of rhythm and movement. The music of popular Bahamian artists such as Ronnie Butler, KB and others will be featured along with some popular American music performed with a unique Bahamian flair,” he said.

The Bahamas All Stars Marching band was started with the intention to provide young people from diverse communities in the Bahamas an opportunity to develop through the performing arts. They also seek to improve the musical abilities of students and assist those with an interest in pursuing music professionally with tertiary educational opportunities.

“The band has been actively training and mentoring talented young people in the performing arts for the past three years and we are now seeing the fruits of our labor. There are presently 44 members of the band enrolled at various universities and colleges on scholarships in the U.S. and many more at the College of the Bahamas. Some others are also with the armed uniform branches of the Bahamas. The Bahamas All-Stars is living out its objectives by empowering young people through the arts that will make them better citizens for life,” he said.

A meeting with the director of Bands at Howard University is also scheduled so that the members can learn about the college’s requirements. Twelfth graders in the All-Stars band are preparing application packages to submit to the university.

The band is also looking forward to the one of its biggest accomplishments as participants in the Macy’s parade next year. The band will fly to New York City for this event.