Elizabeth “Libby” Jones, 18, will join 400 musicians from across the country in the Bands of America honors band.
She is one six Massachusetts band members selected for the honor, two of whom are from Marshfield High School.
“I am wicked excited,” said Peter Fitzgerald, who will be a senior at Marshfield High School this fall. “I’m going to California. I’ve always wanted to go to California.”
Fitzgerald was chosen to play the euphonium – a small tuba-like instrument – in the band, but he has applied to be one of the band’s four drum majors.
Jones, who will study music at the University of Massachusetts Amherst this fall, will play the French horn.
She has performed in Latvia, Estonia and Russia this summer with the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra.
The 5 1/2-mile march in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day will probably last four hours.
Jones and Fitzgerald said it will be the longest band march they’ve done.
“I’m getting ready, walking up and down Spring Street every day,” Fitzgerald said. “The longest I’ve ever marched is from the Marshfield Fairgrounds to the library.” Amid all the rehearsals leading up to the parade, there will be little time for sightseeing in California. But they are looking forward to meeting fellow musicians from across the country.
“After the parade, we’ll go to a cookout on the beach, at the Pacific Ocean,” Fitzgerald said.
Jones said, “I’m taking some sand back with me.”