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Weeks before its appearance in the Sugar Bowl, the University of Utah Marching Band received an invitation to perform in President-elect Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade, but it's an honor the university cannot afford.
"We think the high-end estimate is probably $150,000. We might be able to do it for a little less than that, we're hoping to, but right around there, I think," University President Michael Young said.
The cost includes sending all 130 band members on charter jets. They will also need hotel rooms for a night or two.
The band members are excited and optimistic. Eva Neves is practicing patriotic numbers, simply blown away by this latest invitation. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, obviously, especially with President Obama; and I would just be thrilled to get to go to D.C.," she said.
Young says the nation was focused on the University of Utah football team and its marching band for hours on Jan. 2. "To follow that up with the band with big-block ‘U,' marching down Pennsylvania Avenue, I think says a lot of wonderful things about the state; it's presence on the national stage and just what an extraordinary place this state is," he said.
Young also told us that Gov. Jon Huntsman is working very hard to make this happen, and the football team has donated a signed football to help raise funds as well.
E-mail: cmikita@ksl.com
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
