Bourne Students to Perform in Rose Bowl Parade

Bourne High School is proud to announce that three of their students
will represent Cape Cod as part of The New England Honor Marching Band performing at the Rose Bowl.

Band Director Lisa Fournier said that juniors John Barmashi, Jaclyn Valencia and Caden Doherty were each selected to perform at the Rose Parade preceding the 111th Rose Bowl Game, which will be held on January 1 in Pasadena, California. The parade will air live around the world with national broadcasts presented by ABC, NBC and Univision.

Bourne Students Reaction

“I cannot believe that in a month we'll be in Pasadena," said Valencia, 17, who plays the euphonium. "I'm so excited for all of our friends and family, Bourne High School, and the music district to see that we went all the way to Pasadena to represent them."

Band Director Fournier said Barmashi, Valencia and Doherty will be the only musicians from Cape Cod to make the trip to Pasadena to perform in the Rose Parade.  “I nominated these three musicians because they are leaders in the ensemble,” said Band Director Fournier, who has been their teacher for about three years. “They lead by example. They are reliable, dedicated and hardworking, and they deserve to be part of something special like the New England Honor Band. I have been the band director here at Bourne High School for over 20 years, and I have never had the opportunity to nominate any students before."

Informal rehearsals have already begun, but the entire New England Honor Marching Band will gather at UMass Amherst before Christmas.

“It’s a surreal feeling knowing that I am representing Cape Cod,” said Barmashi, 17, who plays the alto saxophone. “This whole thing has been a whirlwind, and I had no idea that I was nominated to perform in the Rose Parade. All of a sudden, I got an email saying I was selected, and now it’s already less than a month away until we go to California.”

Doherty, 16, who also plays the euphonium, called it “an amazing opportunity” for him and his fellow bandmates.  “The fact that I will be participating in such a huge event is something I am so proud of, especially having the chance to represent Bourne and Cape Cod,” Doherty said.

Making the Cape Proud

"We are incredibly proud that three of our district's talented students have been selected to represent New England at the Rose Bowl," Superintendent Dr. Quinlan-Zhou said. "This is a remarkable achievement that is a testament to their hard work, dedication and exceptional musical talent. We will be watching from Massachusetts with such pride as they showcase their skills on a national stage."