A band from Guatemala that planned to perform in the 2016 Rose Parade on New Year’s day has failed to secure U.S. visas for its members, a newspaper reported.
“We’re very disappointed by the news,” Richard De Jesu, chairman of the music committee for the Tournament of Roses, told the Los Angeles Daily News. “They’re a great band and we were looking forward to having them perform during Bandfest and the parade.”
The 340-member band from Instituto Pedro Molina in Guatemala appeared in the Rose Parade five years ago as well as in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.
There is no word on why the visas were denied, said De Jesu, but in his 25 years with the Tournament he has never encountered this type of situation.
A Tournament of Roses statement said the organization is “working collaboratively with elected officials and the U.S. Embassy (Guatemala City) to assist the band in securing the necessary travel documents.”
Still, “it doesn’t look like they’re going to be able to get the necessary documents in time to travel here,” said De Jesu.
