Donald Trump may have just announced the performer for his inauguration, but it looks like it may be tougher finding a DC-based marching band to perform on the day.
At least one D.C. public school marching band has participated in the past five inaugural parades, but none applied for consideration this year, NBC Washington reports.
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When asked, a D.C. Public Schools spokeswoman said she was not aware of any band in the district that had applied to participate in Trump’s inaugural parade scheduled for Jan. 20.
High schools and universities in neighboring Maryland and Virginia counties also appear to have skipped application as well — each giving their own reasons from a heavy schedule to the need to rebuild their bands.
Howard University’s band director John Newson admitted that his band — which performed during Obama’s first inauguration — did not apply due to budgetary constraints. But he guessed that politics played a role with why many schools have opted out of such an honor.
“I think everybody knows why and no one wants to say and lose their job,” he told NBC.
Are other schools around the country applying though? It is hard to tell but there appears to have been less interest this year, according to an Arizona company that organizes band trips for schools across the country.
“We didn’t get the response that we got the last time, with Obama. Some groups responded, but with some groups it was crickets,” Music Celebrations International marketing director Luke Wiscombe said. “We’re seeing a little less enthusiasm to be a part of this event.”