The idea behind the "One More Time Around Again Marching Band" is simple: once a band nerd, always a band nerd.

Made up mostly of former high school, collegiate and military marching band members, the group has been a staple of the Portland Rose Festival, notably performing in the Starlight and Grand Floral Parades.

Now in its 41st season, the OMTAAMB has nearly 400 performers who range in age from teens to seniors, and includes a majorette still twirling a baton in her 90s.

Tawnya Garcia is the band director for the OMTAAMB. For decades, Garcia taught music at schools around the Portland area and in 2011, won the prestigious Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation award.

Garcia has a shock of teal in her hair, matching this year’s band uniforms, and said leading this band is a full-circle moment.

“I have former students that are in the band and on the dance team,” said Garcia. “Music is something you truly can enjoy your whole life.”

First-year trumpeter Chris Conti was one of Garcia’s music students in high school. He said joining the band felt “like coming home.”

“It has been 25 years since I’ve picked up a trumpet,” said Conti. “It feels like being reacquainted with an old friend.”

The commitment for members of the OMTAAMB is relatively short: auditions happen in mid-March, the season starts in April and ends with a final performance in June’s Grand Floral parade.

Nicole Hagen plays the trumpet and has been with the OMTAAMB for 16 years.

“I played in high school, moved away for college and when I came back, I joined the band.” she said.

As the band president, Hagen’s goal is just to make sure everyone is having fun.

“Even in high school, band was really competitive,” she said. “I love the idea that this was just fun.”

And the fun isn’t just folks who can play an instrument, the OMTAAMB also has color guard, a dance team and majorettes twirling batons, including Marcy Tuffli.

“I’ve been with this band about 21 years,” said Tuffli.

Decked out in sequined wrist guards with bows on her sneakers, Tuffli is beaming when she talks about joining the band. “I thought it would be fun, so I didn’t tell the soul and I just joined and surprised the family,” she laughs.

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And it likely was quite a surprise because Tuffli was in her mid-70s at the time.

“I turned 93 yesterday,” said Tuffli on Monday. “I twirled in high school and then I got married, I put my baton down and raised my family.”

Many of the OMTAAMB members love the camaraderie the band brings, including Allison Ziarnik, a dancer in her ninth season.

“I was a dancer at Parkrose High School and I loved being a part of that, the camaraderie of it, and I found it again all these years later.” said Ziarnik. “To have this experience as an adult is just a really lovely, wonderful thing.”

Ziarnik, like Conti, was also one of Tawnya Garcia’s students, “She was my band director when I was in elementary and then again in high school, so to have her here with me now is just the best, most full-circle moment I could ever wish for.”

You can see the “One More Time Around Again Marching Band” in this year’s Grand Floral Parade in downtown Portland on Saturday, June 7, starting at 10 a.m.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/06/07/portlands-cross-generational-marching-band-returns-for-a-full-circle-moment-at-rose-festival-parades/