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Tarpon Springs band headed to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
It's the chance of a lifetime for a marching band: performing on live television to an audience of millions during the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Tarpon Springs High School Marching Band members will soon experience that thrill when they perform on Thanksgiving morning.
"I had no idea we'd be going to Macy's by my senior year. I've dreamed of doing this my whole life," said senior Sean Tatrick.
The Tarpon Springs band is one of only 11 high school marching bands, and the only from the state of Florida, that will perform.
The band learned of the invitation a year and a half ago. It's been an extra busy time since then for band members and band directors, who have had to squeeze time in for parade rehearsals as they also prepare for football games and competitions.
"It's remarkable what they're able to do, and it all goes back to the leadership component of our school, where we teach them time management skills, action plan skills, goal-setting skills, that they can accomplish anything they want as long as they have a plan in place to be able to do those things," said Assistant Band Director Chris De Leon.
The parade will be broadcast on NBC from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Nov. 28. Tarpon Springs is slated to begin the televised portion of its performance at 10:59 a.m.
The band is also the focus of a Public Broadcasting Service documentary chronicling the band's journey to the parade. WLRN-TV, a PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) member station, is producing the documentary, which will likely air nationally. The documentary will chronicle everything from rehearsals to fundraising efforts to the band's performance at the parade.
Tarpon Springs High School Marching Band members will soon experience that thrill when they perform on Thanksgiving morning.
"I had no idea we'd be going to Macy's by my senior year. I've dreamed of doing this my whole life," said senior Sean Tatrick.
The Tarpon Springs band is one of only 11 high school marching bands, and the only from the state of Florida, that will perform.
The band learned of the invitation a year and a half ago. It's been an extra busy time since then for band members and band directors, who have had to squeeze time in for parade rehearsals as they also prepare for football games and competitions.
"It's remarkable what they're able to do, and it all goes back to the leadership component of our school, where we teach them time management skills, action plan skills, goal-setting skills, that they can accomplish anything they want as long as they have a plan in place to be able to do those things," said Assistant Band Director Chris De Leon.
The parade will be broadcast on NBC from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Nov. 28. Tarpon Springs is slated to begin the televised portion of its performance at 10:59 a.m.
The band is also the focus of a Public Broadcasting Service documentary chronicling the band's journey to the parade. WLRN-TV, a PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) member station, is producing the documentary, which will likely air nationally. The documentary will chronicle everything from rehearsals to fundraising efforts to the band's performance at the parade.
To watch a video highlighting the students journey leading up to the parade, click here.
