Albany State University to kick off ‘Rams in the Roses’ campaign

ALBANY — Next week will be a busy one for Albany State University as the school officially kicks off its fund-raising campaign to send the ASU Marching Band to next year’s Tournament of Roses Parade.

Mike Matthiessen, president of the 2015-2016 Tournament of Roses Parade, and his wife, will serve as Albany State’s special guests for the start of “ASU Rams in the Roses” campaign Tuesday through Friday.

Matthiessen is visiting Albany to officially welcome the ASU Marching Band as participants in the January 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif. The parade is a prelude to the college football playoff semifinal game.

The ASU Marching Band is the only band from Georgia participating.

“We are going to introduce the Matthiessens to Georgia and not just Albany,” ASU Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs LeNedra Carroll said. “The ASU Rams in the Roses” campaign is important because now that we have gotten the invitation we have to raise the money to get the band to Pasedena.

Matthiessen will join ASU friends and supporters in ASU Day at the Capitol activities next Tuesday in Atlanta and visit Albany to participate in scheduled Rams in the Roses activities the remainder of the week.

The highlights of the trip will occur Thursday when the Matthiessens will tour the ASU campus. The marching band will treat the couple with a community mini-concert at the ASU Coliseum from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.

At 4:30 p.m. the university will hold a “Meet the Matthiessens” reception at the ASU student center.

Michael Decuir, director of ASU’s band, submitted an application for consideration last spring to the Rose Bowl committee that included a performance video and recommendation letters from retired band directors at Florida A & M University, Jackson State University and Tennessee State University.

The school received its official invite late last year.

“It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to participate in that parade. It’s the premier parade in this country,” said Decuir.

The criteria for parade performance selection is based on “excellent musicianship, strong performance skills, interesting entertainment value and outstanding directorship” according to Richard DeJesu, chairman of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses

“We are extremely pleased and excited. It will showcase the hard work that our students and faculty have put toward this effort as they do all the time. We are also extremely proud of them and excited to showcase our institution,” said ASU interim dean of the College of Arts and Humanities Marcia Hood.