May 16, 2008

Purdue marching band to perform at 500, leave for China trip

This year will mark the 89th time that Purdue's marching band has performed for the race's opening ceremony. More than 270 students will participate in race weekend activities, which begin with the 500 Festival Parade at noon May 24 in downtown Indianapolis.

On race day, May 25, the band will entertain the fans and back up celebrity singers, including Florence Henderson singing "God Bless America" and Jim Nabors performing "Back Home Again in Indiana." Julianne Hough, who was racing champion Helio Castroneves' dance partner on "Dancing With the Stars," will sing the national anthem.

Following their race-day performance, the band will return to campus that night for a final rehearsal before their trip to China. The band is scheduled to leave before dawn May 26 to travel to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport for the flight to Beijing, China.

Representing Indiana and the United States, the "All-American" Marching Band will spend a week in Beijing, with three performances scheduled, including one by the Great Wall of China.

The band is participating in the Meet in Beijing International Arts and Music Festival, a lead-in to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. This is the first time an American college band has been invited to perform.

The group will return to West Lafayette on June 2.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands public relations director, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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