JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – The East Tennessee State University Marching Band will be one of ten marching bands to perform in the 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in November of 2024.
Macy’s Parade creative director Wesley Whatley, ETSU President Brian Noland and band director Dr. Joe Moore surprised band members and other school dignitaries with the announcement of the invitation.
“The East Tennessee University Marching Bucs being selected to perform in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a dream come true,” said Dr. Joe Moore, director of the ETSU Marching Bucs. “We are ecstatic about the opportunity to represent our university, our region and the state of Tennessee as we share our passion for performance with Parade viewers on Thanksgiving morning.”
Macy’s presented the Marching Bucs with a $10,000 gift to get fundraising for the trip started. The band will spend the next 18 months planning, rehearsing, and fundraising to prepare the students for the march through the Big Apple.
“Under Dr. Moore’s leadership, the band has grown into the largest marching ensemble in school history, consistently delivering dynamic, impactful performances at games and exhibitions across the country,” said Wesley Whatley, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade creative producer. “The Macy’s Band Selection Committee is proud to welcome the Marching Bucs to the Big Apple for the first time to perform for millions in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!”
The Marching Bucs were one of the hundreds of applicants from across the country and this will be the first time the band will perform on the streets of New York in front of a nationwide audience.
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