Perry Panther Regiment to perform at Allstate Sugar Bowl parade in New Orleans

PERRY — The Perry Panther Regiment is heading to New Orleans to perform in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Parade on New Year’s Eve. 

The band was the only high school band in Georgia to be invited to perform. Director of Bands at Perry High School, Rob Ingram, said this is an exciting opportunity and the first time the band has been on a national stage for the past 25 years. 

“It just speaks volumes about what the kids are doing right now, as far as their attention to detail and work ethic and their passion for what it is we do, to be recognized by the parade committee,” he said. 

Ingram shared that this is new territory for them; parades are typically not their focus as a competition marching band. However, they will also compete in a field show called “Battle of the Bands” while in New Orleans.

Normally, the band is done for the season by the end of October, but they are still doing weekly marching rehearsals to practice various styles of marching. The rehearsals also help students learn the visual responsibilities and staying in form together.

After final tweaks, the students will be prepared to shine at both the parade and field show. Ingram shared that they will also do a 15-minute performance at Jackson Square. 

In the field show competition, they will be performing this year’s competition show, “CarnEvil.” In the parade, they will be performing “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea, the students’ choice, Ingram said. At Jackson Square, the performance list is not finalized; however, Ingram anticipates they will perform various pop songs and the school’s fight song and Alma Mater. 

The Perry Panther Regiment will not be the only Georgia band in attendance. The University of Georgia’s Redcoat Marching Band will also perform since the football team will be competing in the Sugar Bowl. 

Ingram shared that he is hoping to bring students to meet the Redcoat Marching Band and see them rehearse. He said a lot of former PHS alumni are in the band and hopes to allow current students to learn more about college marching bands. 

Ingram believes his students’ dedication is what led to the parade committee selecting them to perform on a national stage. 

“Our students do a great job in representing themselves in the school and the community with everything that they do. We just happen to be in a situation to where the parade committee saw that and recognized that and invited us to come,” he said. 

The band has done several fundraisers to help with the cost of the trip. Ingram said community sponsors and donors provided $40,000, which helped bring down the cost students would have to pay individually. 

“The work that the boosters in the community [and] the way they’ve stepped up has truly been incredible,” he said. 

To continue supporting the Perry Panther Regiment, Ingram shared that they are always taking donations. He said people can always reach out to him or their Booster President, Mary Ann O’Connell. 

To also support the Perry Panther Regiment, Ingram invites everyone to their upcoming Winter Concert on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Perry High School. The Perry Middle School eighth-grade band will also be performing. 

The Allstate Sugar Bowl parade will be on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 1 p.m. To watch online, click here.