Michael Kahn will be cutting it close, but he’s got plans to have his king cake and eat it, too. The dual architecture and history major, who’s also a Tulane marching band drum major, plans to make each of the band’s four parade appearances before leaving on Mardi Gras to study abroad.

“I’ll be studying abroad in Australia this semester and at first I thought I would completely miss Mardi Gras this year,” says Kahn. “The band will march in the Rex parade on Mardi Gras day (Feb. 21) and my flight leaves that same evening.”

The Rex parade kicks off at 10 a.m. and Kahn’s flight departs at 7 p.m.  

Parade delays and traffic aside, Kahn is comfortable with his ambitious plan.

“I love the crowd interaction in Mardi Gras parades,” says the seasoned mellophone player. “Football games are great, but we’re detached from the audience when we’re performing on the field.”

Similar to how a college football player might “redshirt” and gain an extra year of playing time, Kahn is enrolled in a five-year architecture program that has allowed him to have four Carnival seasons under his belt already. In essence, this fifth year is lagniappe, but he wants the experience anyway.

In addition to the marching band’s usual Carnival repertoire, which includes several second-line numbers and traditional favorites like “Iko Iko,” Kahn says the crowd will hear a few new pop songs including Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger.”

Catch Kahn and the rest of the marching band this Carnival season in the following parades:

Krewe of Thor — Saturday, Feb. 12

Krewe d’Etat — Friday, Feb. 17

Krewe of Thoth — Sunday, Feb. 19

Krewe of Rex — Tuesday, Feb. 21

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