Harrison Central Marching Band invited to perform at National Independence Parade

The past year has been difficult for students across the globe, including those in after school programs such as sports, theater, and band.

Through all the ups and downs of the pandemic, the Harrison Central Marching Band was able to secure an opportunity of a lifetime.

After a 16-year drought, the Harrison Central band will be returning to the national stage at the nation’s capital in the summer of 2022.

With the help of Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes, who nominated the Red Rebels to perform in the National Independence Day Parade and video submission, the HCHS marching band secured its spot in the celebration and gained national recognition. Band Director Dell Trotter said, “The fact that the band program itself is garnering a reputation in the community– this has always been a band community. I graduated from Harrison Central High School, so this has always been a band community.”

Harrison Central Drum Major Rebkah Locknane said, “It’s a lot of pressure sometimes though. Not in a bad way. It’s a good pressure because you know you have to keep up this legacy that we’ve had for however long. But it’s a lot of fun.”

The last time the Red Rebels performed outside of the region was in 2006 at the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami. This trip to Washington D.C. will give many band students a chance to travel far from home for the first time. Drum Major Jadyn Alfatah said, “For me to be able to actually go like outside of the South area, because I’ve never really been anywhere beside here. So it’s really nice to be able to be somewhere that’s not down in the South.”

“To be able to take kids out of this environment and let them go out and see some of the country, see some of the world, it changes them. You know it really does change a young person to be able to go out and see and experience people from other places.”

Harrison Central is the only band from Mississippi to be invited to play in the parade. “I feel like us being able to do something like that, I feel like it’s a really great achievement for us to have and for us to be recognized as the Harrison Central Band.”

Until next summer, the Rebels will be busy practicing and fundraising for their D.C. Trip in addition to marching season in the fall.