Pasadena Tournament of Roses President to Visit Walton High School on Aug. 16

From the Walton Marching Raider Band

The 2014/2015 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association President, Richard Chinen and his wife, Kimberly, will visit the Walton Marching Raider Band at the Band’s annual Dress Rehearsal on August 16, 2014, 8:00 PM to formally welcome Walton as one of 20 marching bands chosen to make the historic 5-mile journey down Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard on Thursday, January 1, 2015.

Walton’s Band, Directed by Mr. Mike Back and Assistant Director Jeff Pollock, will march into Raider Valley at this season’s premier Full Dress Rehearsal. Upon arrival into the stadium, the Marching Raider Band at 200 members strong, including the Color Guard/Dance Company, and led by Drum Majors - Katherine Roddy, Gina Kim, Elizabeth Frickey, and Rachel Cornell. The Band will perform this season’s marching program entitled “Compass Rose.”

On Saturday evening of his whirlwind August visit, Mr. Chinen will be welcomed to Walton’s “Raider Valley “ stadium by Cobb County Commissioner Bob Ott, Cobb County School District (CCSD) Post 6 Board Member Scott Sweeney, Christopher Ferrell CCSD Supervisor of Instrumental Music, Walton High School Principal Judy McNeill and Walton High School Band Director Mike Back with Assistant Director Jeff Pollock.

The evening’s festivities will include Mr. Chinen’s presentation of the traditional Rose Parade flag to the Walton Marching Raider Band along with the Band’s personal invitation to march in the 2015 Tournament of Roses® Parade. The flag represents the band’s prestigious participation in the 126th Rose Parade. Another highlight of the evening will include the drawing of the winning raffle ticket for a 7-night cruise with Holland America Cruises which students sold tickets for throughout the summer in order to raise funds to pay for the trip to Pasadena.

Please plan to join the Walton Marching Raider Band as they welcome the Rose Parade President and local politicians and dignitaries at Walton’s Stadium, known as “Raider Valley”, located at 1590 Bill Murdock Road, Marietta, GA at 8:00, on Saturday 16 August as they perform this year’s show, entitled “Compass Rose.”

For additional information on Walton High School’s participation in this internationally famous event, please contact Michele Reale at michelereale@att.net or Lisa Frits at fritsfamily@gmail.com or visit the band’s web site www.waltonband.org.