NCCU band to march in Pasadena

DURHAM -- The N.C. Central University Marching Sound Machine will march in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade.

The New Year's Day parade in Pasadena, Calif., is one of the top three honors a marching band can snare, said Jorim Reid, the band's director. The others: an invitation to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York and the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Trophy given each year to the top college or university band in the nation.

Reid took over as the NCCU band director in 2001. Then, there were 32members.

Things have changed. Reid expects to take 250band members to Pasadena.

Though he has had success, Reid said he wouldn't have applied for the Tournament of Roses had not a parade committee member suggested he do so.

Next up for NCCU, a frantic fundraising campaign. The trip could costNCCU $500,000, no small amount with public universities currently in budget-cut mode.

"What kind of fundraising will we have to do? Massive!" Chancellor Charlie Nelms said.