Local band to perform for President

OXFORD, Ohio (WDTN) - Miami University's Marching Band is getting ready to make school history and perform in the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade.

"It's an incredible honor.  We're very excited to be apart of this, very humbled to be apart of this.  We're happy to represent the state of Ohio and Miami University," says band director Steve Lytle.

MORE STORIES ON THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION

The band was selected from more than 2,800 other organizations.

Band director Steve Lytle says they submitted an application before the election.

Since Republican Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan is a Miami University graduate, they thought they would have a good chance of being chosen if he won.

So, when they were selected, it was music to their ears.

"We applied for it not exactly knowing what would be the outcome and we were excited and elated to hear the phone call and just immediately started preparing for the trip," explains Lytle.

But, it's not about politics for the 215 band members who will make the trip.

"I mean, I don't even know who is a democrat and who is a republican in this band, because, as soon as we found out, everybody was so excited, it didn't even matter," comments Rachel Boden, a senior from Kettering.

"It's just about representing Ohio and representing Miami University and just going out there and supporting the President and America," says Aimee Miley, a freshman from West Chester.

"I mean, not a lot of people get to say, they're marching in the Inaugural Parade.  That's a big deal, in and of itself, no matter who is elected and because the parade is only once every four years, it's just so exciting," explains Olivia Ekler, a junior from Dayton.

Band members will be packing up their instruments and heading to Washington DC Saturday morning.