• Watch honor band video

Two Morton High School Marching Band students are starting the new year with a bang by being a part of two once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

On New Year’s Day, Dani Geier and Jacob Garber performed at the Rose Bowl parade in California as part of the Bands of America Honor Band.

Geier is a junior spinner for the band’s color guard, while Garber is a sophomore snare player in the drumline.

The pair spent eight days in California, with many of their hours each day spent rehearsing and performing.

“I lost track of exactly how many hours we performed each day, but I know sometimes it was from about lunch time to dinner,” Garber said.

Garber said a trip highlight for him was meeting and working with many of the band’s well-known staff.

“To march in the parade under their direction was a highlight I won’t experience again anytime soon,” Garber said.

Both Garber and Geier had to provide a video audition to be considered for this year’s honor band.

Only about 300 students are selected for the honor band from more than 3,000 applicants.

Garber added the honor band is only put together every four years, so conceivably, a freshman in high school could apply again as a freshman in college.

“I do know of one lucky kid who got accepted twice that way,” Garber said.

Garber said he would recommend upcoming band students take a chance on trying out for the 2013 honor band, but only if they are serious about it.

“It’s a great chance to perfect your instrument and playing, but it is definitely not easy,” Garber said.

Geier said she was incredibly excited to go to the Rose Bowl, and it was easily the best experience of her life so far.

“I made lots of friends and met people from all over the country I’ll probably keep in contact with for many years to come. It was a way to really perform outside of your comfort zone,” Geier said.

Geier added the group of band students also got to take in some sightseeing during their off-days from performing and rehearsing.

“We had a two-day pass to Disneyland and got to walk around Hollywood and Beverly Hills and take pictures. We drove by Leonardo Dicaprio’s house, and I got to see where Paris Hilton was pulled over,” Geier said with a laugh.

Geier said she called her Morton coaches after their Bowl performance, but discovered they missed her television debut.

“They said as soon as my part was ready to come on, they ended up cutting to a Disney commercial,” Geier said.

Neither Geier nor Garber had much chance for rest when they returned to school on Monday because the band is busy preparing for its next nationally televised appearance.

The band was selected to perform in President-elect Barack Obama’s inaugural parade Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C.

Garber admitted it has all been a little overwhelming.

“It’s a historical trip and I’m excited, but to get home from a week of parade preps and get right back into more parade stuff was a bit much,” Garber said.

Geier agreed the coast-to-coast trek will probably take its toll on her by the end of January, but both trips are a rarity for the average high school student.

“I’m going to have the opportunity to see lots of things most high school kids will never get to see in their lifetime, so I’m grateful and excited,” Geier said.

The Morton High School Band Boosters are still taking donations for the Obama parade trip.

Send checks payable to the Boosters, with “Washington, D.C. trip” written on the memo line, to: 320 E. Jackson, Morton, IL 61550.

Questions regarding donations should be directed to Ginnie Klopfenstein at 635-2845, or klopcru@mtco.com.