By VANESSA WELCH

vanessa.welch@register-news.com

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND — Imagine performing live for nearly 217,000 audience members to thundering applause and cheering as your band moves from one song to the next.

Three Mt. Vernon Township High School graduates who play in the Golden Eagles Marching Band at Southeast Missouri State University, enjoyed this memorable experience in August by representing the United States in the 2008 Edinburgh Military Tattoo Program.

MVTHS graduate and SEMO senior Mary Beth Hicks said she was proud to have the opportunity to play with prestigious groups overseas.

“There just aren’t that many civilian groups that get to go,” piccolo player Hicks said. “Coming from the Midwest and being able to perform and see the other groups was a once in a lifetime experience.”

MVTHS alumni who were involved with the SEMO marching band included seniors Hicks and Michelle Rue, and freshman Jared Frisby. The marching band began practices with band camp in Cape Girardeau, Mo., on July 17, eventually flying to London on July 21.

“We first saw a quick tour of London,” Hicks said. “We went to Kingscross Station where they made the Harry Potter scene from platform 9 3/4. We also went to Abbey road to recreate the famous Beatles cover and visited [the] Baker Street home of Sherlock Holmes.”

After a day and a half, the band continued traveling to York, England, and finally to Edinburgh, Scotland, for more practice until the Tattoo began Aug. 1. The Tattoo was comprised of one show each night Monday through Friday, and two shows on Saturday, concluding with the last performance on Aug. 23.

Hicks said the marching band played during an eight minute time slot for each performance, and welcoming applause echoed as they opened with Yankee Doodle, continuing with Rule Britannia, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City, America the Beautiful and Stars and Stripes Forever.

One of Hicks’ favorite aspects of playing in the Tattoo was being able to meet people of different nationalities.

“There was a Singapore band, dancers from Canada, an Indian Army Band and the Guards of Norway,” Hicks said. “My favorite act was His Majesty The King's Guards Band of Norway. They did a rifle show that was very precise, and they were also around our age and were very nice. It is mandatory for everyone in the group from Norway to serve one year in the military.”

At the conclusion of each program, Hicks said all the marchers, dancers and bandsmen, including over 100 bagpipers and drummers, joined together to perform a stirring finale.

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo Program is one of the best known military drum performances, referred to as military tattoos. The annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo features many United Kingdom regiments, and since its beginning in 1950, more than 40 countries have been represented. The August event was the second time the SEMO marching band was invited to perform, and it is only the second U.S. university marching band to have appeared in the Tattoo.

Performances were held at the Edinburgh Castle each night. Throughout history, the castle has served as a residence for royalty and as protection. Today, the castle remains headquarters of the 52nd Infantry Brigade and houses several regimental headquarters, military museums and the Scottish National War Memorial. The ceremonial parade ground in front of the castle, referred to as the Esplanade, is where the Tattoo takes place.

Overall, Hicks said she was blessed to witness how music formed a strong connection between audience members and performers.

“It seems like music brings everyone together,” Hicks said. “No matter where you are from, or what you believe, music is the one thing that ties everything together.”