Valley Christian High School and Beijing China No. 57 School are selected for 2013 Tournament of Roses® Parade in Pasadena

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The long-held dream of being invited to perform in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade has come true for the students, parents, and faculty of Valley Christian High School’s Marching Band and Color Guard. For the first time in the Rose Parade’s^® 124 year history, the group will be marching as a combined unit with Chinese high school students from No. 57 School in Beijing. This “East-West Fusion All-Star Band” will be meeting for the first time for a week of rehearsals and tours in China during Spring Break, April 9 – 16.

“Valley Christian Schools’ Conservatory offers unique international experiences for high school students to broaden their knowledge in music, varied cultures, and world affairs”

These two bands were among the final 22 marching bands selected from over 450 applications to participate in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade, which has run consecutively since 1890 in Pasadena, California. Respected as “America’s New Year’s Celebration” this year’s parade theme will be “Oh, the places you’ll go” and will be watched on television by millions in the United States and around the world. The 2012 parade reached 39 million TV viewers in the US and 28 million internationally.

“I’m very proud of Valley Christian Schools’ role in creating the first East-West Fusion All-Star Band for our 2013 parade. This will be a spectacular combined band to showcase the international language of music. These young ambassadors will have the time of their life sharing cultures and having fun in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Sally Bixby, President of the Tournament of Roses Parade.

The band’s fundraising goal is set at $250,000 to get the band and staff to China and to Tournament of Roses Parade in December. Students have been involved in many projects such as selling stadium seats, hosting a Ladies Tea, and holding an Ask-A-Thon.

“We have partnered with Beijing No. 57 as our sister school. This relationship can be captured in the school motto of Beijing No. 57: “face to modernization, face to the whole world and face to the future,” said Troy Gunter, Vice President/Director of the Conservatory of the Arts at Valley Christian Schools.

“Valley Christian Schools’ Conservatory offers unique international experiences for high school students to broaden their knowledge in music, varied cultures, and world affairs,” says Dr. Clifford Daugherty, President of Valley Christian Schools.

Students interested in performing in the Rose Parade, are encouraged to audition. Tryout’s for the Valley Christian East-West Fusion All-Star Band will be held in the spring and summer. The next audition date is May 5, 2012.

About the Valley Christian High School Marching Band

VCHS Marching Band and Color Guard is a competitive field show band with the Western Band Association. Instrumental students of all levels are accepted. Musicianship and technical skills are taught in the band classes, and are reinforced at after-school and weekend rehearsals.

Parade experience by the Valley Christian Marching Band and Color Guard has included the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, San Jose Holiday Parade, Santa Clara County Veterans’ Day Parade, Santa Cruz Band Review, Maytime Band Review, and the "Merrie Monarch Parade" in Hawaii, and being the first high school band to marching down Main Street at Hong Kong Disney.

About the Beijing No. 57 High School Band

The marching band was founded in 2000, and under the skillful direction of Director LU Jin, is now recognized as one of the finest and most comprehensive high school band programs in the Beijing. Beijing No.57 High School Band has a long-standing tradition of excellence in music education. The band program at No.57 High School provides a comprehensive musical experience for its students with special emphasis placed in the areas of concert, solo, and ensemble performance. Since 2001, the Beijing No.57 High School Band has participated in various competitions and performances, such as Universiade Opening Ceremony, Asia Marching Band Association, Beijing Olympics, and Expo 2010 Shanghai. This band consistently earns superior ratings in both marching and concert band competitions and has received the gold prize from 2009 to 2011 in the National Band Show competition.

About Valley Christian Schools

Valley Christian Schools (VCS) is a private, K-12 Christian school system located in the heart of Silicon Valley in San Jose, California. Valley Christian Schools provides rigorous college preparatory programs while offering a K-12 comprehensive education. VCS challenges students to aspire toward lives of character, service, and influence while pursuing their individual Quest for Excellence™ through A3 - Academic Achievement, Artistic Beauty, and Athletic Distinction.