▶️ UPDATE: Stewarts Creek High band reinstated to perform at Inauguration

Jan 20, 2025 at 10:17 am by WGNS


WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Stewarts Creek High School band has learned they will perform at the Presidential Inauguration event today in Washington D.C. Principal Dr. Clark Harrell told the students of the reversal: 

The band had originally been scheduled to perform in the inauguration parade, but those plans were changed when the event was moved inside the capital because of weather safety concerns. According to Presidential Inaugural Committee schedule, it appears that Stewarts Creek High School will be the first high school band to march and perform at the event today (Jan. 20, 2025 - Scroll down for LIVE streaming video or CLICK HERE for more news on this subject).

The school received the official good news last night. "In a reversal, the Presidential Inaugural Committee has notified us that the SCHS Band will perform in the inaugural parade today at Capitol One Arena," Stewarts Creek Principal Dr. Clark Harrell said. "We are immensely grateful for the Tennessee Congressional Delegation and all the support they have given us this weekend. We could not be prouder of our students and staff and are  excited to see them showcased on this national stage today."

The exact time of the performance is not known at this time. 

The band originally learned they had been chosen to perform in the parade. They have spent the past few weeks raising $120,000 to finance the trip, they have received multiple donations from individuals, the Rutherford County government and businesses, such as $40,000 donation from Tractor Supply Company last week. 

After learning the parade plans had been canceled, the band leadership decided to make the trip to Washington, D.C. anyway because many of their arrangements were non-refundable. Fortunately, they decided to take their instruments and uniforms with them because they planned to perform somewhere in the city even though the parade plans had changed. 

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED: PARADE INDOORS - UPDATED: Officials in Washington, D.C. confirm that the outdoor inauguration parade will be moved indoors and about 7,500 participants from 23 states will move forward with representing the U.S. This representation includes not only veterans groups, but also high school and university marching bands. Reports indicate this means the Stewarts Creek High School Band from Smyrna, TN will perform at the now indoor event (CLICK HERE )

Today marks the first time since 1985 that the inaugural parade for the President, in this case for President Donald Trump, will be held inside. Evidently, the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.'s Chinatown that holds up to 20-thousand people, will be the location for the parade. The event will be televised as it is not open to the public. However, the arena is a large venue and home to the hockey and basketball games of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals. One rally, which was a pre-inauguration victory rally, was already held at the arena on Sunday (Jan. 19, 2025).


 

PREVIOUS: Smyrna, TN – The exuberance of getting the needed $120,000 to cover the costs of getting the Stewarts Creek High School band to Washington, DC had everyone on “cloud 9”. At the last minute Tractor Supply came forward with the needed $40,000 to put the Red Hawks “over the top”.

Imagine the feeling of band members, parents, area residents—everyone, when government officials decided that the weather was going to be so rough that  on inaugural day, that the parade was cancelled and everything else was moved inside the capitol's rotunda.

What do you do? TRAVEL EXPENSES are not refundable! - There's no sense in trashing $120,000 in travel expenses, so the band decided "To go to DC and hope that state officials can work out a location for a concert to honor President-Elect Trump".

Rep. Sparks Pushing for Help

State Representative Mike Sparks (R, Smyrna TN) told WGNS... 

Therefore, the Red Hawks still plan to travel to Washington, DC for Inaugural Day this Monday (1/20/2025), even though everything has been moved inside.

Representatives with Stewarts Creek High School are working with State of Tennessee officials about setting-up a concert in the nation’s capital to honor President Trump.

At this time, there is nothing firm, but Red Hawk band members, parents, and faculty are humbled to have received the vote of confidence with financial backing from a large cross-section of individuals and businesses.

It's like the old rock'n roll song that says "All dressed-up and no where to go".

The Stewarts Creek High School family notes, “The arctic blast in DC has frozen-out the inaugural parade, but the Red Hawk band hopes that Tennessee’s political leaders will thaw-out a venue where the Great State of Tennessee can honor the next president. 

WGNS News has contacted many Tennessee politicians, but so far--there's nothing new to report. Stay tuned!

 

Tags: Cancels high school Inaugural Parade news Rutherford County schools Stewarts Creek Band weather
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