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With its long history of playing at momentous occasions, the Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band set the bar even higher this week.
Days after being selected to perform in the 2017 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, where it will represent the town of Trumbull and the state of Connecticut, the 100-plus student ensemble was pegged to play at the Fiesta Bowl parade in Phoenix later this year.
The first of two celebratory announcements was made Wednesday, April 27, when Macy parade officials, working secretly with school officials including band director Peter Horton, surprised marching band students with the news that they had been selected out of hundreds of nationwide applicants to be one of 10 marching bands in the 2017 Thanksgiving Day parade on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017.
The performance will mark the second Thanksgiving Day parade appearance by the band. They previously appeared two decades ago, in 1997.
The Golden Eagles will join the parade to the call of Let’s Have a Parade, the iconic phrase that has signaled the start of every Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1924.
“Over the years, Trumbull High School has consistently proven they are one of the finest high school bands in the northeastern United States,” said Wesley Whatley, creative director for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. “Macy’s is proud to welcome the Golden Eagle Marching Band back to the Macy’s parade family in 2017.”
Stage presence
Each year, the Macy’s Parade Band Committee looks for bands that have the stage presence and the musical and marching abilities to captivate more than 3.5 million live spectators and more than 50 million viewers.
The Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band was selected from 175 applicants as one of 10 bands to march in the 2017 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 on Thanksgiving Day 2017, helping to create an unforgettable experience for millions.
Before they invade the streets of New York in November 2017, the desert-bound Eagles will have the opportunity to play at the Fiesta Bowl parade and Field Show Competition in late December.
The marching band is no stranger to this event; however, this year, the Fiesta Bowl is one of two College Football Playoff semifinal games for the 2016–17 bowl season and is expected to draw its highest ratings ever with a prime time New Year’s Eve slot.
The Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band will spend the next 18 months planning for both their parade appearances.
“Rehearsals and creative fund-raising events not only bring the school and the community closer but also prepare the students for the march of a lifetime,” said Kelly Targowski, a Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band parent.
Almost a century old
For more than eight decades, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade has given thanks to what the retail chain values most — its loyal fans.
More than 5,000 Macy’s employees and dedicated volunteers work tirelessly to create a spectacular event that entertains the cheerful crowds and provides joy to millions at home watching on Thanksgiving Day.
Stretching down a more than two-mile-long route in New York City, the spectacle is alive with gleaming color, music and smiles.
For more information on the Macy’s parade, visit www.macys.com/parade or call the parade hotline at 212-494-4495.
For those looking to make donations for the band as it prepares for two national parades, there’s an official GoFundMe page https://www.gofundme.com/2zkq62tq as well as a website thsgembcorp.com. For mail in donations, send to PO Box 255, Trumbull, CT 06611 with THSGEMB as the name.