Members of the Pride of the Mountains prepares for the 2019 Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Photo by Wyatt Burnette.
Over 540 Western Carolina students and Pride of the Mountains marching band members will stomp the streets of New York City during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
This is the second time for POTM to march in the 93 year old history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. They lead the parade in 2014.
Viewers may notice something very unique as POTM marches by. The band is trying to break a world record with 62 cymbal players marching in the parade.
“Our goal is not just to do it, but do it well. It will be the loudest cymbal crash you’ve ever heard I guarantee it,” said Matt Henley, Assistant Director of Athletic Bands.
With 62 total cymbals players marching in the parade, many are playing the instrument for the first time this year. Photo by Wyatt Burnette.
Members of the band that will be playing cymbals have been training for weeks. The members of the front ensemble and the purple drumline will be the ones taking on this task. This involves learning an instrument they may have never played before.
“We have been videoing each cymbal player and critiquing each said, Henley. He is confident that each of them will perform very well because of the intense preparation the staff has provided.
All 62 cymbal players will be surrounding the most important section of the band. The drumline is in the middle of the parade block for a reason, they are the pulse of the band. They are the only musicians that play constantly they never get a break.
“I think my family is going to be really proud of me and they’re going to be really happy to see me do what I love to do,” said Brandon Lee, the lone freshman snare drummer of the gold line is excited for the opportunity to march in the parade.
Joyce Lee, Brandon’s sister was a member of POTM the first time the band performed in the parade. She was unable to make the trip due to financial issues. Her image was played on the giant banner carried through the parade.
“I think my sister will be really proud to see me march in the parade,” said Lee.
Freshman Snare Drummer, Brandon Lee performing in the Macys Parade Rehearsal. Photo by Wyatt Burnette.
The drumline is in the middle of the parade block for a reason, they are the pulse of the band. They are the only musicians that play constantly they never get a break.
In order to be best prepared the band has been practicing the Macy’s routine for months in different locations around campus.
“The only place big enough for us to practice the parade block is the intermural fields,” said Henley. The band has also performed rehearsals on the game field and in the POTM lot behind the baseball field.
The day of the parade will start early for POTM, rehearsal is set for 4 a.m. on Nov. 28.
The parade starts at 9 a.m. from the 77th St. in Central Park and ends at Harold’s Square on 34th St. the location of the NBC television block where the band will perform on live TV. It is expected 3.5 million people to line the streets and over 50 million to watch the parade on NBC.
Upon arrival at Harrold’s Square, the location of the NBC television block where the band will perform on live TV.
Freshman Alondra Montalvo who marched in the parade in high school said, “the parade is about 4 miles long, by the end of it you are sweating even though is really cold.”
Both Montavilo and Henley said that timing is very important for everyone to make into the NBC television block for the parade. There is a very limited amount of time, which makes practicing the block very important so everything goes smoothly on the day of the parade.
“Who knows what it will be like this time. The only word I can think of is electric. Going through the parade is loud, playing between two concrete buildings and standing on asphalt it’s loud,” said Henley.
The band leaves Cullowhee on Saturday, Nov. 23, and returns on Nov. 30. They can still use support to fund their trip. For more information on how to support WCU’ Pride of the Mountains visit,givemacys.wcu.edu.
