June 12, 2021
Today, the Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble was selected to perform in the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, representing the state of Florida. This will mark the second Parade appearance by the band. Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble will join the celebration at the call of “Let’s Have a Parade™,” the iconic phrase that has signaled the start of the beloved annual holiday tradition since 1924.
Each year, the Macy’s Parade Band Committee looks for bands that have the stage presence and musical expertise to captivate the streets of New York City and millions of viewers across the country. Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble was selected from more than 100 applicants as one of nine selected bands to march in the 96th edition of the annual holiday spectacle. The band will join the revelry along with other iconic Macy’s staples: floats, giant character balloons, clowns and superstar performers galore, helping to create an unforgettable experience for millions.
“The student leaders of Tarpon Springs Outdoor Performance Ensemble are among the finest musicians in the country, always striving to elevate and explore the boundaries of what is possible in the marching arts,” said Wesley Whatley, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade creative producer. “Only a small handful of programs achieve this level of excellence and Macy’s Band Selection Committee is honored to have Tarpon Springs join our ranks once again on Thanksgiving 2022!”
“We are incredibly humbled and honored to have been selected to represent our school, community and our great state of Florida in the 96th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade” said Kevin Ford, Tarpon Springs High School Band Director. “We feel fortunate to have the opportunity to provide this once-in-a-lifetime stage for our Tarpon Springs student performers. We look forward to the honor of performing for the nation and celebrating the start of the holiday season Thanksgiving 2022!”
Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble will spend the next 18 months planning for their Parade appearance. Rehearsals and creative fundraising events will not only bring the school and local community closer together but also prepare the students for the march of a lifetime. To help kick-start the band’s fundraising goal, Macy’s has made a $10,000 donation in support of their march towards the Big Apple.
