Hermiston High marching band to perform at Holiday Bowl

Hermiston High School’s marching band will be performing at the Holiday Bowl halftime show as well as the parade in California on Dec. 30.

The marching band will hold a showcase at Hermiston High School’s Kennison Field at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 23 to practice its Holiday Bowl music and full field show, which it will perform during halftime. Game kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

The marching band also will perform in the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade, known as America’s largest balloon parade. The parade begins at 10 a.m. Dec. 30, and it will be televised later on at 8 a.m. Jan. 3 on the Universal HD Channel. The television broadcast may be the best opportunity to see HHS students, according to a news release from the school.

“Over the past three years, Band Director Paul Dunsmoor has done a tremendous job of re-energizing the band program at HHS,” said Executive Director of Operations Mike Kay in a release. “He has worked tirelessly to increase numbers, raise funds for new uniforms and equipment, and increase program exposure across the region. Participation in an event like this is a continuation of the vision to be the premier band program in the region.”

The band has been preparing for its performance for the past two years, raising money through Ford’s Drive One 4UR School event, managing the Hermiston Family Aquatic Center concessions stand, and seeking sponsorships.

This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 6:01 PM with the headline "Hermiston High marching band to perform at Holiday Bowl."