PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Canby High School marching band has accepted an invitation to perform in the Grand Floral Parade after missing their chance to appear in the Starlight Parade.
Students were all dressed in their uniforms and ready to head to downtown Portland on Saturday, but after waiting for 45 minutes, the bus never showed.
After an investigation into the miscommunication, the school district determined band director Nick Luchterhand submitted a request for a bus but it was not processed correctly.
“I made some assumptions about the paperwork I submitted as part of the request for the field trip. It’s my responsibility to make sure transportation is arranged, although I was not aware I needed to do so. I offer my sincerest apologies to all the band students, parents, and volunteers,” Luchterhand said in a press release.
Parents who reached out to KOIN 6 News said the band had been working hard on practicing their marching and music for the June 1 parade.
When the bus didn’t show, the band instead marched around the school parking lot before heading home.
After hearing what happened, Rose Festival officials invited the Canby HS band to march in the Grand Floral Parade on June 8.
“This morning Festival staff heard the rest of the story and it broke our hearts to hear that, so the Rose Festival is officially issuing an invitation to the Canby High School Marching Band to come play in the Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade next Saturday, June 8,” Rose Festival spokesperson Rich Jarvis said in a press release on Sunday.
Jarvis said even though the parade line up is complete, they will make room for Canby High School.
He said Luchterhand was “surprised and pleased” at the invitation and cleared it with the school and students.
Arrangements for the bus to the Grand Floral Parde have already been made.
“We are thrilled that the students’ hard work preparing for the Starlight Parade will be on display next weekend,” Canby HS principal Greg Dinse said. “These students deserve a chance to shine.”