UNI PANTHER MARCHING BAND PERFORMS IN NEW YEAR'S PARADE IN ROME, ITALY

Just two years after the UNI Panther Marching Band performance in the internationally televised New Year's Day Parade in London, England the band accepted an invitation from the City of Rome, Italy to perform in their 2017 New Year's Day Parade.

The Panther Marching Band has 315 members, which is the largest student organization on campus. It includes students representing over 79 different academic disciplines across campus.

According to the Rome New Year’s Day Parade website, the official Rome New Year's Parade is the only parade with a blessing from the Pope. On January 1 each year, tens of thousands gather in St. Peter's Square, filling the streets with pageantry and music, to celebrate and receive the Pope's New Year’s Day blessing. A focal point of Rome's holiday season and the World Day of Peace, the Rome New Year's Parade celebrates life, cultural diversity and international goodwill.

During the 9-day trip, the students also have the opportunity to go to Florence, see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and perform in the delightful hilltop town of Frascati. The remainder of the trip will take place in Rome. Educational tours include:

• Full-day educational coach and walking tour of Rome, with local English speaking guide.
• Half-day educational tour to The Colosseum and the Roman Forum, with personal MP3 guided audio tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
• Half-day educational tour to Vatican City, including entrances to The Vatican Museum, The Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica, with local English speaking guide.
• Half-day educational tour to one of the Catacombs on the outskirts of Rome, including entrances to Catacomb burial chambers, with local English speaking guide.
• Full-day educational tour to Pompeii, with local English speaking guide.
• Full-day excursion to Florence, including the Accademia Gallery and the Duomo, with local English speaking guide.
• Half-day excursion to Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower.

The band left the United States on Wednesday, Dec. 28th; the students covered the costs of the trip themselves.