OHS band to usher in millennium in Tampa

Band raising funds for trip to National Outback Bowl festival
By Alex Bonarice
Dispatch Staff Writer

    ONEIDA - The Oneida High
School marching band is preparing
for its biggest trip ever.
    On Dec. 27, about 110 members of
the band will travel to Tampa
Florida to participate in the
National Outback Bowl Festival, said
Tim Watson, director of music at the
high school and one of the band
directors.
    With 110 students, two directors
and three instructors and approxi-
mately 24 parent chaperones this
trip is the largest group going the
furthest distance for a high school

trip said Watson.
    The Outback Bowl, formerly the
Hall of Fame Bowl, is sponsored by
the Outback Steakhouse Corp. The
events include a New Year's Eve
Parade with thousands of spectators
and a Half-time Massed Band
Performance at the New Year's Day
game,
    The band will also perform at the
Magic Kingdom Dec. 30, and a the
Outback Bowl Parade on Dec. 31,
New Year's Eve.
    These events will give the stu-
dents a unique opportunity to bring
in the New Year, said Watson.
    "They'll all remember where they
were when they brought in the new

millennium." said Watson.
    With total cost of about $575 per
student, the band is relying heavily
on community support and fund
raisers to prepare for the trip, said
Watson.
    The band has about 117 mem-
bers, said Watson, and most of stu-
dents are needed for the upcoming
performance.
    "We sent the audition tape with
our full band," explained Watson.
"We were accepted as a hundred
plus band. You wouldn't send a
baseball team to a tournament
short half the team."
    "The community is very support-
ive," said Watson, "and the students
work very hard to earn money."
    While the holiday break trip is
the biggest trip of the year, it isn't
the only event the Oneida High
School Band is going to participate
in this year, said Watson.
    The band participated in the Fall
Foliage Parade in North Adams,
Mass. and traveled to Binghamton
to participate in the Columbus Day
Tournament of Bands.
    Besides giving students opportu-
nities for travel, participating stu-
dent earn other benefits.
    "Like any team activity band
members learn discipline how to
work with a team, work hard and
form friendships that last, a life-
time," he said.

(Oneida Daily Dispatch, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999)