Press Release
Will be first American group to perform at the internationally-televised Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Monkey.
LOS ANGELES – Feb. 2, 2016 – On Thursday, the Trojan Marching Band (TMB) will cross the Pacific to help Macao celebrate the Chinese New Year at its Parade for Celebration of the Year of Monkey on Feb 10. Featuring over a thousand performers, the annual spectacular winds along the Macao waterfront entertaining millions of viewers both locally and via international television broadcast. The TMB is one of seven groups from outside China invited to participate in the event by the Macao Government Tourism Office. The Trojans will be the first American performers in the parade’s history.
In addition to the parade, the TMB will perform a concert in front of Macao’s iconic Ruins of St. Paul’s – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – on Feb. 9 at 10:40am. Upon arrival in Asia, the band will be greeted by members of the USC Alumni Association of Hong Kong and hosted for lunch.
This will be the sixth visit to China by the Trojan Marching Band in the past 13 years. In 2003 and 2004, the TMB performed in Hong Kong’s Chinese New Parade. In summer 2004, the Trojans toured Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing, where they played on the Great Wall of China. Since then, the TMB has returned to Shanghai twice, first in 2010 to perform for USA National Day at the city’s world expo and again in 2014 for the opening of the first Old Navy store in China.
Director Arthur C. Bartner – now in his 47th year leading the organization – has taken band members to 18 countries on six continents. Wherever the Trojans have roamed, it is with the knowledge that they are ambassadors for both their university and their country.
“Any time you represent the United States, it’s a special experience for the Trojan Marching Band and its students, says Bartner. “It’s a great honor to be selected to be the first American performing group to appear at the Macao Chinese New Year’s Parade and to share our musical talents with the citizens of Macao.”
The Chinese New Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Monkey will be televised internationally by TVB. In Los Angeles, it can be seen on Jade LA on Feb. 13 at 8:30pm.
