Falcon Marching Band travels to St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ireland

For the first time in its 102-year history, bowling Green State University Falcon Marching Band-a travels the largest college bands of the Landes-after Ireland to perform in the iconic parade to St. Patrick's Day in Dublin on March 17.

The Falcon Marching Band will be one of only three college marching bands that occur in the parade and converts about two miles through the Irish capital and usually draws half a million spectators.

“This is a unique opportunity for BGSU students, and I am thrilled that our incredibly talented Falcon marching members have the chance to present their talent and attitude on a global stage,” said Jon Waters, professor and director of march and sports bands. “The Marching band is about so much more than music and performance. These students learn valuable life skills, and this cultural experience will only improve this.

“I think our students should leave the university with two pieces of paper – a diploma and a passport. This journey will fulfill this philosophical endeavor for me as an educator. “

Of the band's record of 425 members, 300 students, faculties and employees take the self -financed international trip. The opportunity shows the commitment of the university for the collection of student experience, which is number 1 in Ohio in 1st place in the Wall Street Journal for two years in a row.

This year's Falcon Marching Band is the largest in BGSU history and collects widespread support and enthusiasm throughout the university and the larger community. The band has grown from hundreds of students every year since 2022 and coincides with the organization with the energy, creativity and management points. In addition, 75% of the band consists of majors outside of music, which mean their integrative environment and the general attraction for students in the learning community.

The band was recently recognized by US News & World Report as one of the nation's outstanding college bands.

According to Waters, the application for the performance in St. Patrick's Day Parade began over a year ago and included a competitive review and selection process for applications. In order to prepare for the trip, the students are enrolled in a course with two loans through Irish history, traditions, customs and culture. They also rehearse every week to learn new music and improve their marching skills.

“I want the students to travel with a deeper purpose and this class should prepare them for this unique opportunity,” said Waters.

The band goes off on March 12, Bowling Green and arrives in Ireland the next day. You will spend two days to explore the city of Killarney before traveling to Dublin on March 16.

The parade to St. Patrick's Day begins on March 17th at 12:00 p.m. The Falcon Marching Band will join the more than 4,000 parade participants from all over the world in the estimated Irish tradition.

For BGSU Senior Sydney Tabor, the journey is the highlight of a profound three -year experience in the Falcon Marching Band.

Through the band, she built a strong social network and credited a band friend of visual communication in visual communication that helped her to better discover it with her career commitments than on her first major in marketing.

“Falcon Marching Band was a great driving force for my success at BGSU,” said Tabor. “It is incredibly special to present the amount of hard work and commitment that we have included in our services on a global stage.

“This will be my last opportunity to march with the Falcon Marching Band. Experience will be very sentimental to me, but at the same time it feels like the perfect way to end my final year. “