Palm Springs Band to March in Presidential Inaugural Parade

By Angela Monroe

CREATED Dec. 21, 2012

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  • More than 120 Palm Springs High School students will be in the parade following the swearing-in of President Barack Obama on January 21st. They've got the musical skills, but need your help to get to D.C. Video by kmir6.com

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Big news for talented musicians here in our valley.
The Palm Springs High School band has been invited to be part of the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington D.C.
More than 120 Palm Springs High School students will be in the parade following the swearing-in of President Barack Obama on January 21st.
They've got the musical skills, but need your help to get to D.C.

You see them march in our local parades., but now the Palm Springs High School Band is going to Washington.
"I thought it was great, couldn't wait, I just hope I see Obama there," said Palm Springs High School junior, Naveen Nanayakkara.
From the rhythm of the percussion, to the trilling of the woodwinds and the bold notes of the brass, the "Spirit of the Sands" band makes music their passion.
"Being in band for me is actually life changing because I never thought I'd be this far," said Palm Springs High School senior, Neil Phaoner.
"It's a major family, we're a large student body, almost 200 kids," said Nanayakkara.
The Palm Springs High School Band Boosters president, Randy Vaughn, says so far they are the only California high school band participating in the Inaugural Parade.
"These kids work very hard, we have out of our band 100% college eligible when our students graduate, these are kids who come from families that don't have big incomes but yet these kids work hard, and they have this opportunity not only to represent Palm Springs High School but the entire valley, city and state," said Vaughn.
But now they need to raise a lot of dollars, $1,100 a student to make this trip happen.
They need donations.
"They need to help us get these kids over there, this is a memory that will never go away, and this is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity," said Vaughn.
It's an opportunity to start the year on a very high note for these students.
"It's going to be a good, an amazing day, we'll be out there representing Palm Springs and maybe California too," said Phaoner.
All the way from Palm Canyon Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue, this band will be marching on a historical day.
If you want to help send the Palm Springs Band to Washington D.C., you can send a check
to the Palm Springs Band Boosters.
P.O. Box 4983
Palm Springs, CA  92262.