Mike Matthiessens enjoying first trip to South Georgia | VIDEO | PHOTO GALLERY

ALBANY — Mike Matthiessens, president of next year’s Tournament of Roses Parade, got an upclose look at the Albany State University Marching Band and their campus during a three-day visit this week that featured a special concert for guests and community members at ASU Coliseum.

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Thursday afternoon, the Marching Rams treated visitors, including Matthiessens, to the type of entertaining performance that helped earn the band an invite to the 2015-2016 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif. next January.

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“The formation looked very similar to what we saw on video,” said Matthiessens when addressing the band after the show. “We like that a lot.”

Matthiessens told the band he was very excited for the opportunity to see them in action and was also excited about the band coming to next year’s parade. He also said that even though ASU has one of the smaller bands, 115 members as compared to one band in the line up with over 800 members, he believes their performance is ideal for the setting.

“I also have to share with you that we learned a little over 14 years ago that with big bands and long bands, that the smaller band gives a big sound,” explained Matthiessens. “It’s concentrated and it plays really really well for the crowd. You guys just demonstrated that right here, right now. That’s why out of over 100 applications you guys were chosen. We have 13 openings and you guys are one of the 13.”

Matthiessens also praised band director Michael Decuir, telling the band they were fortunate to have him as their director.

“Every band brings their personality, they bring their region and certainly they bring their band director and their personality,” said Matthiessens. “If I could play anything other than the kazoo I would want Michael to be my band director.”

Thursday’s concert was just one of the highlights for the Matthiessens who spent the majority of this week touring the state, and the ASU campus.

The Matthiessens’ visit was coordinated as part of this week’s “The ASU Rams in the Roses” campaign, which was designed to help the school raise awareness and the the funds needed to send the band to the Tournament of Roses Parade, which serves as a prelude to the Rose Bowl in January 2016.

Matthiessens had nothing but praise for the school during his visit, his first to South Georgia, saying he and his wife had been very warmly received from Atlanta to Albany.

“So far, whether it’s been Atlanta or our time here in Albany the warmth and the Southern hospitality has just been overwhelming,” Matthiessens said. “We’ve been treated like family, we feel like family and we couldn’t be prouder to have Albany State University represent the South in the Tournament of Roses Parade.”

Albany State University Vice President for Institutional Advancement Chanta Haywood said the Matthiessens’ visit and the “The ASU Rams in the Roses” campaign was critical in the school’s efforts to make the Tournament of Roses Parade trip a reality.

The trip to Pasadena will be Dec. 27 through Jan. 2, which, minus travel time, will allow the group three full days to practice, as well as have some significant life experiences.

“The trip would mean so much to the band and the students,” said Haywood. “It will be very culturally enriching.”

By Haywood’s calculation it will take roughly $450,000, or $3,000 per person, to take a 150-person group, made up of band, students and faculty on the trip.

She added that the Mattheissens’ visit has gone a long way toward helping with that goal. Haywood said the Matthiessens’ visit actually began in Atlanta when they spent the entire day meeting with supporters, corporate sponsors, the local legislative delegates and the governor, discussing why the trip was important.

“It’s so important that the Matthiessens are here because it indicates that they recognize how great the band and the students at Albany State are,” said Haywood. “To have this level of support is tremendous. The reception we had in Atlanta was very good. I left those meetings feeling so good I could’ve marched with the band.”

Haywood said the school is currently hoping that in addition to potential corporate support the community at large might be willing to help get the group to Pasadena.

Haywood said anyone wishing to donate to the cause can visit www.asurams.edu and access the “ASU Rams in the Roses” section to make a donation. Anyone who prefers to donate by check can make checks payable to the Albany State University Foundation and in the memo line simply indicate “Roses Parade.”