In the band room at Palmetto Ridge High School, practice goes on after school as it normally would. A typical band practice, not much different than at any other school.

But what these 230 students are preparing for is far from the typical experience.

In just over two weeks, Palmetto Ridge’s band will be part of the Inauguration Parade in Washington D.C. on Jan. 20, as President-Elect Donald Trump is formally sworn in as President of the United States.

“I’m very nervous, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to march in this parade,” said Mclaine Mifort, a senior. “We all definitely feel special for doing something like this, especially for the President.”

The Marching Pride as they’re called, are the first band from Collier County, and only the fourth high school band from the state of Florida to take part in the parade.

Isabella Wilson, a senior in the band, said it’s not much different from practicing for any other event, say a football game for example.

© RJ Roan / Naples Herald © RJ Roan / Naples Herald © RJ Roan / Naples Herald

“Obviously we have more time for that,” Wilson said. “We have months [to prepare] where this is jammed into a shorter period of time. But it’s not too different, we still have after school practice all together as one band.”

Jet setting around the country to perform on a large stage hasn’t been uncommon for area bands of late.

Barron Collier’s marching band performed in the Hollywood Christmas Parade in California this past year, while Gulf Coast was a part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York in 2015.

Of course, this one gives a little extra bragging rights, doesn’t it?

“Totally,” Wilson laughed. “Forget Macy’s now.”

The Marching Pride has also been feverishly raising money for the trip. District spokesperson Greg Turchetta said they needed to raise around $100,000 to go. As of Wednesday, they were a quarter of the way there.

© RJ Roan / Naples Herald © RJ Roan / Naples Herald

© 2017 Naples Herald. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.