Three James Madison University students from Suffolk recently traveled to Italy with the Marching Royal Dukes.

The JMU band was the only college band in the New Year’s Day Parade in Rome.

Participating in the experience were Nansemond-Suffolk Academy graduates Stuart Brazil and John Wade, as well as King’s Fork High School graduate Spencer Jefferson.

Brazil is a sophomore majoring in converged media in the School of Media Arts and Design. He plays in the band’s trombone section. Wade is a freshman majoring in English and plays in the tuba section. Jefferson is a freshman majoring in athletic training who plays in the band’s tenor sax section.

Brazil said it was his first time in Europe.

“I think my favorite part was how old everything was over there, compared to our perspective of old in the U.S.,” he said. “You could walk down the street and see buildings that are 800 to 900 years old, and then see the Parthenon, which is close to 2,000 years old, right in between some coffee shops.”

Listening to the Pope’s blessing in St. Peter’s Square on New Year’s Day was “very cool,” according to Brazil.

“It turns out that big college marching bands are kind of an American thing, and so when we marched right into the square with our huge Marching Royal Dukes sound, we were treated like absolute rock stars. People from all over the world wanted to take a picture with us.”

Brazil recalled a couple from France, who didn’t speak much English, asking for a photo with him and a friend, as they stood toward the outside of the band.

“It actually happened a couple of times,” he stated. “It was very cool.”

Besides the parade and festival in Rome, the Dukes also spent two days in Florence and one day in Siena. “I actually learned a little bit of Italian, as well,” according to Brazil.

“It’s very different over there, though, when it comes to interactions like buying things and eating in restaurants — nothing like the U.S. But if I had the chance to go again, I would take those eight-hour hour flights in a heartbeat.”

According to a news release, the band performed the theme from “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” in the parade, and music from its season for a performance in St. Peter’s Square.

In all, 227 band members made the journey at the invitation of festival organizers, accompanied by band staff, band alumni, and family and friends.

“We are proud to be one of the largest and most visible student organizations on campus, and take seriously our responsibility to represent JMU both nationally and internationally,” stated Scott Rikkers, director of the Marching Royal Dukes and assistant director of bands at JMU.

“Performances and trips such as this one allow our students, staff, alumni and band families the opportunity to experience different cultures and share our music with different audiences.”