South Alabama marching band heading to Italy

Yahoo

13-02-2025

DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) — One local wiregrass band is receiving the opportunity of a lifetime, getting the opportunity to play across the sea.
The Daleville High School band is set to spread its wings and take to the skies in the next month.
Starting in mid-March, the band, named Pride of the South, will touch down on foreign lands where they will have the opportunity to perform in front of few locals of some pretty famous places.
Dothan beauty queen charged in murder-for-hire plot to be released from jail
'we are headed to Italy in march for a cultural exchange with some Italian students…We're given two performances. Once in Florence and once in Venice,' said Mark Nichols, Daleville Band Director
The Pride of the South was personally invited by the World Strides Organization–where they will get the chance to mingle and learn from European high school students. The are currently the only band from the United States to go.
This band is no stranger to traveling to perform. Over the years they have made stops all across the U.S., including California and New York, while also performing in Toronto.
But for most of the band members, they have never experienced something like this.
'it's my first time being out of the country. So, I'm super excited; and doing it with my best friends is cool,' said senior Olivia Howell.
The band has been planning for this trip over a year ago and as of now everyone involved has been able to raise around $16,000, but still have one more financial hurdle to get through before they can take to skies.
'We're taking a school bus to the Atlanta airport, but it still costs money for us to go there. We're looking for another $1,500 dollars to finish our trip off,' said Nichols.
Nichols says he is most excited about getting the opportunity to see the looks on all his students faces when they witness such things like the Vatican and the collesium.
Dothan woman found guilty in deadly stabbing
After talking with a few of the band members, they were more than appreciative of the opportunity that was presented to them due to all of the hard work they put in.
Even if it took one of them some time to learn the sport.
'At first, music wasn't that important. But as you go throught it more, you find a love for it and band becomes you family,' said Junior Connor Stratton.
'I do think that it will be a great learning experience, and I like that we were given the opportunity to do so,' said Senior Cierra Deutsch.
Stratton, Deutsch, and Howell are all trombone players with the Pride of the South.
Now while the band still needs more than $1,000 in donations, Nichols says that he is more than confident that his group will be able to raise the money necessary just in time for them to take to the skies.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.