ORANGE PARK – As band camp comes to a close, the students and faculty that make up the Orange Park High School Raider band are already looking forward to January 2019.

On the first day of the new year, the band will be in New Orleans performing in one of the most sought-after venues for a high school marching band – the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

“I expect a lot from these kids, I demand excellence,” said Band Director Brett Pikuritz. “So, they’re very deserving of this payoff.”

The band was selected and received its invitation early in 2018 and Pikuritz has the kids working harder than ever on a field show that he hopes will impress the judges.

“This show was composed for this band based on their strengths,” Pikuritz said. “So far, it’s been a great year, they’re putting in long hours and they don’t really complain.”

The show, called “Out of the Woods,” will feature large prop trees and complex marching charts that, if done right, should be one of the best productions the band has ever put together.

“It feels like every year the band just gets better and better,” said eight-year veteran staff member Omar Stanley, who currently works as the band’s director of percussion. “This is the most talented band I’ve seen in my time here and the most knowledgeable staff.”

At the Sugar Bowl, the band will compete in a field show competition, march in the official Sugar Bowl Parade and perform in the halftime show with members of marching bands from across the country.

“I think the kids will stay focused by the competition,” Stanley said. “It’ll be good for them to see how they stack up against bands from across the country.”

The opportunity will take these students farther than they’ve gone before on band trips, with most of their travel happening within the state of Florida.

“We’ve done trips before, but we’ve always stayed in the state,” said senior trumpeter Tristian Geister. “We’ve never done anything this big.”

Pikuritz also noted that the students will have a chance to explore New Orleans and get a taste of what the city has to offer, as well as some opportunities to perform around town during the Sugar Bowl festivities.

“This is also important for them to see very cultural things,” Pikuritz said. “New Orleans is a city full of music, art and culture. It’s the birthplace of jazz!”

The whole thing is organized through a company called WorldStrides and costs each student about $750 altogether. So, the band will be busy for the rest of the year not only perfecting their field show but holding a myriad of fundraisers.

“Every little bit counts,” Pikuritz said. “We appreciate the community's support.”

Though the students are working hard to make it all happen, their morale remains high as they look forward to their unforgettable week fulfilling any band kid’s dream next January.

“The best thing, for me, is to see how happy people are when we perform – clapping and cheering,” Geister said. “That makes it all worth it.”

For more information on how to help the band raise funds for their trip, visit their website at www.orangeparkband.com and look under the fundraisers tab. For a preview of the show they’ve put together for the competition, catch the band performing at OPHS home football games this fall.