P-CEP Marching Band has eye on Rose Bowl
It certainly was about showing off Plymouth's Fife and Drum Corps and the Plymouth Community Band, but it was also about giving a downtown packed with people Thursday night an up close experience with the award-winning Plymouth-Canton Educational Park Marching Band.
And more importantly, the free concert, "Let's go Blue," in Kellogg Park, was designed to raise money to send the P-CEP Marching Band to Pasadena for the 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade.
"We had envisioned a few less people here," said Carl Battishill, Plymouth Community Band director, as he gazed out over the park and the concert goers who had spilled out onto sidewalks.
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Superintendent Michael Meissen and . Pam Smith, a Michigan Board of Education member, took the stage, as well.
"They are part of the plea," Battishill said. "Support some kids who got an amazing invitation to play in the Rose Bowl."
Parents of band members were on hand with contribution envelopes and a booth manned by the Booster Club offered a spot where visitors could find out about the trip and drop some money in a drum.
"This is the Super Bowl of Parades," said Chris Zygmunt, president of the marching band booster club.
It is estimated that taking the 180-member-plus marching band, instruments and props to Pasadena carries a price tag of more than $500,000. The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools does not pay for the band to attend the Rose Bowl, leaving parents and supporters to foot the bill.
The marching band has three times won the national championship title and last year were state champs. The band was last asked to participate in the Rose Bowl Parade in 1973.
"They (marching band) had to be deserving of this (Rose Bowl)," Battishill said. "They had to earn this."
He asked concert goers to take an envelope and make a donation or take the envelope home. "Then it's your decision."
Rose Bowl tab
With the large crowd in attendance, Battishill did the quick math and told the crowd that if each person donated $1, the band would have thousands of dollars to add to their fundraising. With a $5 donation, a "serious dent" would be put into paying the bill, and $10 would be more than a welcome boon.
"The Rose Bowl didn't write them a check," he said. "Our community should support them."
Meissen said the marching band members are "goodwill ambassadors for public eduction. They are a point of pride for our community."
Organized by band booster parent Rick Stanely and Plymouth Township resident, attorney and community activist John Stewart, the evening featured Jim Predhomme with the Plymouth Fife & Drum Corps, Battishill with the Plymouth Community Band and David Armbruster with the P-CEP Marching Band.
"This is a feather in the cap for the school district," Stanley said, referring to the Rose Bowl invitation.
Stewart was surprised at the crowd. "This is overwhelming community support."
The evening highlighted Carl Grapentine, the voice for the University of Michigan Wolverines football team and marching band. A special treat for guests was Matt Cloutier of Grosse Ile and the University of Michigan's drum major with George Harvell, former Michigan State University drum major and resident of the Plymouth Tonquish Creek Manor.
Stewart, a baritone, sang the national anthem, while Laurie Aren, executive director of the Plymouth Salvation Army, conducted the Plymouth Community Band in the Michigan State University fight song.
To donate to the P-CEP Marching Band's trip and performance to the Tournament of Roses Parade, go to the booster club's website at www.pcmb.net.
The next significant fundraise will be Oct. 24 when the Plymouth-Canton marching band hosts the Great Lakes Invitational for high school bands on the Canton High School varsity field.
jmaliszews@hometownlife.com | 248-396-6620 | Twitter: @jmaliszews