Select band students boarded a flight to New York to partake in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Band Nov. 16. Students submitted a video of them playing an assigned piece, paid a fee of $30 and waited nearly six months for their response to get mailed back. Even with the video proof on YouTube of their musical talent, students needed to work against time. The Macy’s Band uses a rolling admissions policy, so at any point an instrument section can close if they accepted enough students.
One of the band students, sophomore clarinetist and master of five instruments, Daniela Prieto noted how the process of applying for the band was a stressful part of her February 2018. “I was so scared and wondering whether I would [audition] at all. You know how some days you think ‘oh, I sound great today,’ or ‘oh, I have good intonation.’ Well, that day I sounded horrible. I just did it thinking, you know what, let’s see what happens,” Daniela Prieto said. She was not the only one hypercritical of their performance. Her twin brother, sophomore Davel Prieto, started to think about his audition tape after submitting it. “I was pretty confident and then after [submitting], I just lost it. I felt like I was not going to get in,” percussionist and master of over 15 instruments, Davel Prieto said.
Luckily for the twins, their qualms were washed away once they got the large envelope with an acceptance letter inside during the summer. Now as Macy’s Band members, the students were able to look forward to their travels. “This will be my first time traveling to New York. I’m super excited, and it’s the Macy’s Parade. I’m going to be on national television and on the Today Show,” said fellow Macy’s Band member junior percussionist and master of over 15 instruments Adrian Gonzalez. Since flying into New York, the students were able to experience snowfall, eat at Ellen’s Stardust Diner and attend music sessions. The AHS Macy’s Band members, will perform on NBC this Thursday (Nov. 24) at 9 a.m.
