BGSU Marching Band To Perform In Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

(From Bowling Green State University)

For the first time in its 102-year history, the Bowling Green State University Falcon Marching Band — one of the nation’s largest college bands — is traveling to Ireland to perform in the iconic St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin.

The Falcon Marching Band will be one of only three college marching bands performing in the parade, which winds through Ireland’s capital city for about two miles, typically drawing half a million spectators.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for BGSU students, and I am thrilled that our incredibly talented Falcon Marching Band members are being given the chance to showcase their talent and poise on a global stage,” said Jon Waters, a professor and the director of marching and athletic bands. “Marching band is about so much more than music and performing. These students are learning valuable life skills, and this cultural experience will only enhance that. 

“I believe our students should leave the University with two pieces of paper — a diploma and a passport. This trip will fulfill that philosophical endeavor for me as an educator.”