Published in the August 28, 2015 edition
MELROSE — The Melrose High School Marching Band has been selected by the American Veterans Center and Music Celebrations International to be an Official Representative of the State of Massachusetts in the 2016 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C.
Director Matthew Repucci was informed of this selection based upon the nomination of Congresswoman Katherine Clark. This patriotic spectacle will take place on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2016. The parade will take place in the heart of the United States capital, making its way west down Constitution Avenue, and ending at the National Mall between the White House and the Washington Monument.
The Melrose High School Marching Band will be featured alongside bands representing all 50 states and other parade performers selected to march in this historic tribute to America’s heroes, past and present. The 2016 National Memorial Day Parade is the culmination of a weekend-long celebration, preceded by the National Memorial Day Concert Series and Choral Festival, happening at several of the area’s most well-known memorials and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, respectively. All three events will feature talented young instrumentalists and vocalists from around the country. For more information, visit musiccelebrations.com/parades.
The mission of the Melrose High School Band program is to give students a life defining experience through music. The program provides an exciting and challenging learning environment. It promotes collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, goal setting and achievement and serves the City of Melrose with a variety of performances throughout the school year.
Students may participate in Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra, Middle School Band, Youth Band and Winterguard. In 2011 the band received a first place ranking and gold medal in division 3 at the New England Scholastic Band Association final competition and has received a gold medal at finals every year since.
Repucci is in his fourth year as band director for the Melrose Public Schools and directs the Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Middle School Band, Youth Band and Pit Orchestra. He holds a bachelor of music from the University of Connecticut and master of music from the University of Massachusetts.
