U. band is invited to take part in inauguration

Within days of returning from rousing the Ute crowd at the Sugar Bowl, the University of Utah Marching Utes have been invited to board another plane and march in the presidential inaugural parade in Washington, D.C.

The 128-member band, including all of its uniforms, instruments and other equipment, will need to find $150,000 in the next two weeks in order to represent the state on Jan. 20. It is depending on donations and other sources to foot the bill.

"In the financial year that we've had with budget cuts and money being tight everywhere, there's no university money available to support the band. We'll have to rely on external sources," said Robert Walzel, director of the U. School of Music.

"It would be a great opportunity for our students to be able to represent the state in what looks to be a landmark event," he said.

The band, known as the "Pride of Utah," according to its Web site, did not submit an application for the event, but groups in Utah that did, such as the American Fork High School Marching Band, were either not selected or could not come up with the funds to get there.

Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland provided Barack Obama's Presidential Inaugural Committee with the idea, and the Utes received an official invitation Monday. They have yet to accept and must complete FBI background checks on all band members as one of the qualifications to participate in the 56th Inaugural Parade.

"The University of Utah was a hotbed of activity for the Obama campaign," Holland said, adding that many student volunteers from the U. and neighboring Brigham Young University ended up helping out in the battleground state of Colorado prior to the 2008 election.

So far, no groups from Utah have been chosen or have accepted invitations to be in the parade, but nearly 80 entries from 45 states are in line to perform. The committee reported that more than 1,300 organizations applied to participate, "setting a new standard for interest in marching in the parade."

Any group selected to participate is responsible for paying its own lodging and transportation, which is why folks at the U. have been trying to rustle up as much as they can. Many alumni and "people who care about the university and who care about the situation," according to U. Vice President Fred Esplin, have been contacted for the cause.

A few thousand dollars have been raised thus far, he said, adding that "discretionary money is tight for everyone right now."

The estimated $150,000 needed for the trip will allow the band to charter a flight and pay for rooms in town during the event. Esplin said the money will have to be collected within a couple of days to make a go of the trip.