A Grand Celebration at Sea
In January 1988 Brian O’Connor, class of 1985 SJHS graduate, was the drum major and chief motivator of the Michigan State Spartan Marching Band in Pasadena, California fulfilling a childhood dream…to lead his college marching band in the Rose Parade. He fulfilled that dream, and the Spartans were victorious over USC in the Rose Bowl Game that year.
Fast forward to today, and the St. Johns native is set to fulfill another Rose Parade dream when he makes his second appearance in the 122nd Tournament of Roses Parade aboard his company’s float for Cunard Line themed, “A Grand Celebration at Sea.” As float producer/director he will also ride as one of the Big Band trumpet players.
O’Connor, a 1991 Telecommunication graduate from MSU, serves as director, marketing and public relations for the iconic British ocean liner company that operates the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and in October of this year, he and his team of publicity colleagues staged a Royal Naming Ceremony attended by Her Majesty The Queen to launch their newest ship bearing her name, Queen Elizabeth.
For the past 10 months O’Connor and his team at Cunard have been developing the float design, casting and rehearsing the musicians and ballroom dancers to bring to life the Queens Room Ballroom aboard their elegant ships. O’Connor, donned in a tuxedo will be one of the band’s trumpet players. In early December, Cunard unveiled the design for their 55 foot long float created by Fiesta Parade Floats in collaboration with renowned artist and float designer Raul Rodriguez.
Brian’s mother, Roberta O’Connor, pitches in by putting white roses on the bow of the float.
The inaugural float will present Cunard’s fleet recognized as “The Most Famous Ocean Liners in the World” – flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and the new Queen Elizabeth. Additionally, the float depicts champagne toasts and multigenerational families celebrating the theme of this year’s Rose Parade, “Building Dreams, Friendships and Memories, all on board a luxury cruise vacation with Cunard.
From bow to stern, Cunard’s float will be decorated in floral grandeur, reflecting the line’s classic ocean travel experience. The float will also depict signature hallmarks found on a Cunard liner, including the Royal Court Theatre, grand sweeping staircases and a signature red and black funnel, complete with theatrical smoke rising from the stack.
An oversized floral-graph of Cunard’s three Queens takes center stage at the top of the float’s ascending staircases, a fitting reference to the upcoming Cunard Royal Rendezvous taking place on 13 January 2011 in New York Harbour. This rare maritime event will be only the second time in Cunard’s 170-year history that three regal Cunard Queens have docked together in New York.
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade taking place Saturday, 1 January 2011, at 8 a.m. (PST) featuring majestic floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands.
The float is unit #50 which should have us passing the TV/Grand Stands at approx. 9:00 AM PT, Noon Eastern.
The building and decorating progress of Cunard’s “Grand Celebration at Sea” Rose Parade float can be followed on the Line’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/cunard.
Cunard Line encourages fans to vote for its inaugural float entry, “A Grand Celebration at Sea,” which is eligible for a Viewers’ Choice Award at the 122nd Rose Parade presented by Honda. For the third year in a row, the Viewers’ Choice Award will allow Rose Parade fans to choose their favorite float by voting online and, for the first time ever, fans will have the opportunity to vote via text message.
Viewers will be able to vote for the Viewers’ Choice Award by texting the keyword FLOAT followed by the float I.D. (50 for Cunard) to 50649, or by voting online at www.tournamentofroses.com/viewers-choice-award. Fans can vote up to five times for their favorite float. Voting will take place from 8:00 a.m. (PST) to 2:10pm (PST) on 1 January 2011 (message and data rates may apply).
