Cary High band to march in Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
CARY, NC (WTVD) -- The Cary High School marching band is giving its all at practice for the performance of a lifetime -- a chance to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Band members have practiced for hundreds of hours during the course of a year and half, and though they feel ready for their performance, they still expect the long parade route will be a challenge.
"Endurance is a big factor. The parade is 2.5 miles long," Band Director Matt Minnick said. "The thing about our activity is we want to look good, we want to sound good, your feet have to be in time; what does your body look like?"
"By the end of marching around the school, like, you have to keep your legs really tight to keep your marching clean, and so by the time we get to the star when we do the laps, it's like I have to stretch out a little bit," said Taylor Higdon, a student in the band.
"We've marched in parades before so there's kind of that element of similarity, but at the same time it's a completely different setting with a ton of more people," said Sarah Flexman, also a student participating in the parade.
Now after summer rehearsals, practice sessions after school, weekend competitions and weeks of band camp, their director said they're ready for their big moment.
"That'll be kind of a bittersweet moment because the kids will realize they put a lot into it. This will be the last time that they do it," Minnick said.
"I'm really proud of them all the work that they put in and I hope that they just have a great time doing it," he added.
Not only are they performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, the school will also getting a chance to perform right in the heart of Central Park as well.
