Edina Hornet Marching Band will perform in Outback Bowl

The Edina Hornet Marching Band is one of several high school bands selected to participate in the mass band performance during the Outback Bowl halftime show on New Year’s Day. Edina High School students will travel to Florida on Dec. 27 and perform with over 2,000 performers from across the United States.

Planning for the trip began in fall of 2018 when staff sent in an application that included video recordings of past performances. The Outback Bowl, a college football game featuring teams from the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten Conference, provides high school bands with an opportunity to participate in a number of events leading up to the game. In addition to the halftime show, Edina High School (EHS) students will also perform in a high school field show festival and in the Outback Bowl New Year’s Eve parade. Since being selected, EHS students have been practicing in Braemar Dome for field and parade preparation and in Fick Auditorium for music preparation.

The Outback Bowl is extra special this year since the University of Minnesota Gophers will compete in the game. Before the mass band performance, the marching bands of the two colleges competing in the game will perform. EHS Band Director, Andy Richter, believes this will be an opportunity for students to see the talents of alumni. “There are so many Edina alumni in the band,” said Richter. “We are hoping that we can have a shared experience of some kind with the University of Minnesota Marching Band.”