NW marching band makes history

For the first time in the history of the Portland Rose Festival, the Grand Marshal for this year’s Grand Floral Parade was not one person but 530.

Portland-based One More Time Around Again Marching Band (OMTAAMB) is an adult-only marching band with about 50 members living in Vancouver and North County. Members range in age from 18 to 87 years old.

“That is an incredible honor because marching bands are never selected as Grand Marshal, ever,’’ said Diane Millemann, board president of OMTAAMB. “They just don’t pick a marching band. In 120 years of the Rose Festival they have never selected a band as Grand Marshal so we were blown away with the honor.”

Not bad for a band formed at the 11th hour. OMTAAMB was created in April of 1984 by then-Rose Festival president Clayton Hannon. Millemann said that Hannon felt Portland needed an all adult band, so he contacted Bill Chisholm, band leader at Centennial High School and said, “I want Portland to have this band and march this year for Rose Festival.’’ So, between the two of them, they organized a 45-piece band, found a sponsor, purchased shirts, recruited a friend to acquire instruments and, less than two months later, they performed in the parade.

Today, the organization retains 18 of its original members. They don’t just come from the Portland/Vancouver area. OMTAAMB is made up of participants who travel from all over the country. For out-of-towners who aren’t able to attend rehearsals, practice CDs are mailed to them.

Members travel from Eugene and Corvallis as well as Wyoming, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. The group’s drum major for the Starlight Parade came from Southern California and there’s a couple who makes the trek every year from North Carolina. Participants plan their vacations to coincide with OMTAAMB’s scheduled appearances.   

As the largest adult marching band in the United States, it’s an opportunity for folks to join who formerly belonged to their high school band, or always wanted to be a part of a band. Due to the fact that the Grand Floral Parade is televised, there’s a huge viewing audience that sees OMTAAMB and signs up as a result of that exposure. Millemann said they’re always looking for members and she just received a letter from a retired conductor for the Chicago symphony who’s interested in joining.

“It gets in your blood. You can’t give it up,” Millemann said. “Once you hear a drum cadence, you just have to step off.”

The band is made up of 25 flags on the flag line, 30 majorettes, 50 dance team members and all the rest are musicians who range in age from 18 to their 87-year-old majorette, who marches and twirls the full 4-1/2 miles of the Grand Floral Parade.

“She’s amazing, but you can see why we couldn’t do it all year long. We’re too old, for heaven’s sake,” Millemann joked.

Since its inception, the band has been known for the second song in their four-song repertoire, “Louie Louie.’’ Millemann said that as OMTAAMB approaches fans on the parade route, they hold up their hands with the number two and children on the street have signs that say “play number two.’’

The group is seasonal due to its size. Rehearsals begin in April and occur once a week. In May, a one-hour concert for the public is performed. This year, it was held at Pioneer Courthouse Square, 18 songs were performed and the place was packed.

The band also performed their first flash mob last month. According to Millemann, 200 band members participated and it occurred on opening night of the Rose Festival City Fair. They also send three buses to Florence, OR, each May, so that approximately 150 members can take part in the Rhododendron Festival.

As a nonprofit organization, OMTAAMB would not be able to afford uniforms, equipment and insurance for 500 people without their sponsor of 11 years – Standard TV & Appliance. The band covers the other half of their costs through member dues.

For more information or to apply to One More Time Around Again Marching Band, go to www.omtaamb.org.