You might spot some familiar faces in the crowd during Inauguration Day on Jan. 20.
Rutherford County’s Stewarts Creek High School marching band will be headed to Washington D.C. for the 60th Presidential Inaugural Parade after being selected by the the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, along with select groups from across the nation.
The Middle Tennessee marching band will be the only band to represent Tennessee.
Stewarts Creek freshman Bayleigh Saunders plays a bass drum with the precussion section on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, as they prepare to perform in the 60th Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C., on Monday, January 20, 2025. Special bass drum heads with the inaugural logo and the Stewarts Creek name and imagery were created for the parade.
“This invitation is a true testament to the hard work, passion, and dedication of our students,” said Clark Harrell, principal of Stewarts Creek High School in a statement. “We’re thrilled to showcase our students at such a prominent national performance and grateful for the ongoing support from the school and community.”
Band director Michael Chester said they felt a combination of excitement, pride and gratitude, upon being informed of the news. The entire thing felt surreal, he said in an email to the Tennessean on Tuesday.
Stewarts Creek band seeks support for D.C. trip#RCSStrongSchools: 160 band members invited to perform in 60th Inaugural Presidential ParadeJanuary 8, 2025By BARTON HENLEYRutherford County SchoolsStewarts Creek High School marching band was recently selected to perform in the 60th Inaugural Presidential Parade of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance on January 20, 2025.The high school band is the only one representing Tennessee but must cover the costs of the trip.The school is asking for support as the band program raises money to fund the considerable travel expenses to Washington.If you would like to donate, you can visit www.supportschsband.com or reach out to the school directly at 615-904-6771.
Posted by Rutherford County Schools on Wednesday, January 8, 2025
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for our students,” said Chester. “We are humbled by the magnitude of the event and proud of how our students’ dedication and hard work brought them to this opportunity to represent the Town of Smyrna and serve our nation.”
Jan. 20 will mark the first time Stewarts Creek High School will perform during a Presidential Inauguration Parade. Chester said they look forward to sharing the moment with the community and representing the legacy of musical excellence in Tennessee.
Tractor Supply donates remaining funds to Stewarts Creek High School band for Washington D.C. trip
Once the band was alerted they’d need to cover the trip to the nation’s Capitol out-of-pocket, they launched a fundraising campaign for the $120,000 needed to cover the travel costs of all 120 band members and 40 adult staff members and chaperones.
The Stewarts Creek High School marching band pictured at Washington D.C.
On Thursday, the marching band was surprised by Tractor Supply, who donated the remaining $40,000 needed to reach the band’s fundraising goal.
Chester said representing Rutherford County and the Volunteer State will be a tremendous honor, as students are instilled a sense of responsibility as well as pride, not only perform at a high level, but to be ambassadors for their community.
“Knowing that we’ll be showcasing the best of Smyrna, Rutherford County Schools, and Tennessee on a national stage is both humbling and exciting,” said Chester. “We hope our performance reflects the support and spirit of everyone back home.”
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Trump inauguration: Tennessee marching band performing Jan. 20