The Downingtown Area School District’s Blue and Gold Marching Band has been selected as one of the 20 bands that will take to the streets of Pasadena, Calif., on New Year’s Day in 2021 to march in the 131st Rose Parade.

The Downingtown Blue and Gold Marching Band combines the marching bands of Downingtown East and Downingtown West high schools to create a single-uniform, powerhouse team of performers. Downingtown STEM Academy students perform with whichever band would be their home schools.

In late December 2020, close to 400 students and their chaperones will travel to Pasadena to participate in the performance. During this collaborative opportunity, not only will students march in the parade, but they will perform in the event’s Bandfest, which will feature field shows from all participating bands.

The bands’ directors, Andrew German of East and Ed Otto of West, are thrilled at the opportunity.

“We are ecstatic,” said Otto. “It’s wonderful to have our students recognized for their hard work. This event is watched by millions of people, and we were selected out of applicants from around the world.”

As part of the application process, bands must send in a video submission, a resume of the directors, a unique story about the band and a list of accomplishments. More than 600 bands from across the country and internationally regularly compete to participate.

Otto highlighted the added benefits of participating in band.

“There is a place in band for any student who is willing to work for it,” he said. “Once a student puts on that uniform, they are all equals. No one is ever ‘on the bench’ in band. Everyone is a starter.”

The band plans to begin fundraising for the event this spring and will spend the majority of 2020 preparing. To support the band and to learn more about this exciting opportunity, please contact Ed Otto at EOtto@dasd.org.