Olivet Nazarene University's Marching Band invited to appear in 2020 Rome New Year's Day Parade

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BOURBONNAIS, IL (09/05/2018) Olivet Nazarene University's Marching Band has accepted the formal invitation to perform in the 2020 New Year's Day Parade in Rome, Italy. This spectacular annual event is part of the Rome Festival - a series of indoor concerts and outdoor performances at iconic locations citywide.

Rome City Hall's official invitation came in recognition of excellence in music performance by Olivet's Marching Band. Robert Bone, executive director, and Lizzie Bone, operations director for Youth Music of the World visited Olivet's campus in Bourbonnais, Illinois, on Monday, September 3, 2018, to deliver the invitation personally.

Mr. Bone presented the formal invitation - written in Italian, printed and framed - to Dr. Don Reddick, dean, and Dr. Matt Stratton, professor and director of athletic bands, who accepted on behalf of the School of Music at Olivet.

"We have some work to do to get ready for this event," said Dr. Stratton. "And we'll do that with joy and enthusiasm!"

The planned route for the 2020 Rome New Year's Day Parade begins and ends at Piazza del Popolo, Rome's main square. Christmas lights and themes will line the route, against the backdrop of the city's rich architectural history.

Possible venues for the 2020 Rome Festival music performances are St. John of the Florentines, Santa Maria in Montesanto, Piazza del Popolo, St. Peter's Basilica (Vatican), Piazza San Pietro, Piazza del Mercato and/or Basilica di San Pietro Apostolo. Details about the performances and participants will be announced as they become available.

Olivet's 2018-2019 Marching Band, with 180 students, is the second largest marching band at any Christian university in the United States and the largest marching band at a Nazarene university. Dr. Neal McMullian is director of bands, and Dr. Matt Jacklin is director of percussion studies for the School of Music.

"This is an honor for our School of Music and the University," said Dr. Reddick. "I commend Dr. Stratton on this achievement. He has been instrumental - in more ways than one - in making this a reality for Olivet."

Olivet Nazarene University is an accredited Christian, liberal arts university offering more than 140 areas of undergraduate and graduate study, including the Doctor of Education in ethical leadership. Olivet's 275-acre park-like main campus is in Bourbonnais, Illinois, 50 miles south of Chicago. Additional sites are in Rolling Meadows and Oak Brook, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Grand Rapids and Grand Ledge, Michigan; Hong Kong; and more than 100 School of Graduate and Continuing Studies learning locations throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest. From Oxford to Tokyo, hundreds of Olivet students also experience the global classroom each year through study abroad opportunities, internships and worldwide mission trips.

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Contact: Laura Warfel Public Relations Specialist Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL 60914 www.olivet.edu 815-928-5403 lwwarfel@olivet.edu