Drumming in the new decade! World’s first and only BLIND marching band set to perform during the Outback Bowl’s parade and halftime show
- The Ohio State School for the Blind will perform in Tampa Bay, Florida, on Tuesday and Wednesday
- The 25-person band will first perform in the Outback Bowl parade Tuesday and then during the football game’s halftime show on Wednesday
- It consists of children in grades 7 through 12 who attend the school
- The band is the first and only band in the world with only blind members
- The Auburn University Tigers will take on the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers during the bowl game
The only blind marching band in the world has been selected to lead the Outback Bowl parade and perform during the halftime show in celebration of the New Year.
On Tuesday evening, the Ohio State School for the Blind band will perform at the Outback Bowl’s New Year’s Eve parade in Tampa, Florida, ahead of the football game.
Then the 25-person band, which consists of students grades 7 through 12, will take the field of Raymond James Stadium on New Year’s Day to perform during the halftime show.
Exciting news! The Ohio State School (pictured during a football game) for the Blind will perform in Tampa Bay, Florida, on Tuesday and Wednesday
Big deal: The 25-person band will first perform in the Outback Bowl parade Tuesday and then during the football game’s halftime show on Wednesday
Incredible: The band, which is the first and only blind band in the world, previously performed at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, in 2010 (pictured)
‘It surprises me every time though — I guess I should be used to it — how many people after they watch our band are in tears,’ Yolanda Johnson, the school’s music and marching band director, told the Tampa Bay Times.
‘The best part of it is that I get calls from other students and other schools who are trying to get into their band programs, and because of our kids, it’s inspiring other people to allow other kids with visual impairments in other places to be a part of things,’ she added.
The talented band first formed in 2005 by retired director Carol Agler.
At the time, the group was created to play for Ohio School for the Deaf’s football program.
It now consists of members all across the state of Ohio who attend and play for the school.
Since then, the band has traveled across the United States to perform at a variety of parades and other events, including the Rose Parade in Pasedena, California, and the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C.
On their way: Now, the band will take their group to the Outback Bowl game as the Auburn University Tigers will take on the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers
Tradition: The talented band first formed in 2005 by retired director Carol Agler to perform at football games for the school
Assistants stand on the field with the band during the performance to help out as they play and move across the land.
‘There are some students that do march by themselves,’ Johnson said. ‘It’s funny because the kids usually memorize the marching part faster than the adults, so they end up helping the adults with the show.’
Now, the band will take their group to the Outback Bowl game as the Auburn University Tigers will take on the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
‘We are excited to host this group of talented young people as part of our halftime show and New Year’s Eve Parade,’ Outback Bowl President and CEO Jim McVay said in a statement.
‘It is a great opportunity to showcase their abilities on a big stage.’