Modesto schools’ megaband to play in July Fourth parade in D.C. Here’s how you can watch

While Modesto celebrates the Fourth of July, musicians from its public high schools’ marching bands will perform in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C.

More than 130 Modesto City Schools students are making the trip to the nation’s capital. The Modesto Marching Band Brigade is one of just two California high school bands taking part in the parade.

The Modesto students began rehearsing together in April and did their final rehearsal on Wednesday at Beyer High School. The morning included a performance by the brigade as it marched through the Beyer neighborhood. The teens and directors depart for D.C. on Sunday.

Want to try to catch the talented teens in action? The parade will be streamed live from the National Independence Day Parade’s Facebook page at 8:45 a.m. Pacific time. You also can watch a recording of the parade at a later date on YouTube.

To fund the trip, Modesto City Schools used part of its California State Arts, Music and Instructional Materials grant. The state Department of Education allocated the $3.56 billion grant in 2022 to address students’ needs in the arts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This came prior to the passage of Proposition 28 in November, which will provide additional funding for arts education in California public schools.

In February, U.S. Rep. Josh Harder’s office announced that nominations were open for high school bands across the Valley to perform in the parade. The Modesto group submitted a video, photos and information detailing its experience, honors and performance results.

Modesto Board of Education Vice President John Ervin III, who reached out to Harder’s office about the district’s band programs, told The Bee on Wednesday, “This is truly a history-making event. I was equally as proud to see the diverse student participation going on this trip! I feel our equity initiatives are bearing visible fruit of the hard work of the board, superintendent, staff and students.”

According to the National Independence Day Parade, bands are invited based on recommendations from each state’s governor’s office, from a state’s music educator’s office or other music education organizations at the governor’s request.