Jenison marching bands history of really amazing students highlighted with Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade – MLive.com

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI The Jenison High School Marching Band plans to make its legacy known across the country with its selection to perform during the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Weve got a long history of really amazing students in the band program, David Zamborsky, Jenisons band director, told MLive/Grand Rapids Press. This is a big thing appearing on national television.

Zamborsky learned his students would take part in the 2023 edition of the parade the first week of March. But he had to wait to share his excitement.

Related: Jenisons marching band picked for iconic Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade

Macys does a really great job at keeping things as tight as possible, he said of the announcement. That was very much the case this morning.

The morning of Friday, April 29, marching band students were excused from class for what they thought would be a special event. Students took their seats inside the performance center and eagerly awaited the news.

As Wesley Whatley, the parades creative manager, took the stage, students began questioning amongst each other on what was happening, but they slowly started to figure it out.

The kids could tell it was a big deal, Zamborsky recalled. They were super excited when Wesley made the announcement.

With him, Whatley also brought a check for $10,000 that will go entirely toward the trip.

The journey to New York City where the annual parade is held started in January when Zamborsky began compiling his bands resume and achievements together to be considered as an entrant.

Now, after being named one of six marching bands across the country to perform on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 24, officials say the real planning begins.

Macys wants every band performance to be memorable and unique, Zamborsky said.

For 90 seconds, the Jenison marching band will have the attention of viewers from all parts of the United States. Being on national television may sound intimidating to some, but for this group of students, its a once-in-a-life opportunity.

The fun part in all of this is going to be what we want to do and what we want to play, he said.

In the next 18 months, Zamborsky and his students will be busy to say the least. Taking around 150 to 200 students to New York, for several days, isnt cheap. In order to fund the trip, Zamborsky said fundraisers will help raise money to ensure no student misses this opportunity.

Being selected, it shows the legacy that our students leave behind here, he said.

This years parade is set to begin at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving Day.

Read more on MLive:

Suspect extradited from Mexico for 2005 homicides in Grand Rapids

I still feel numb says Michigan woman after she won $1 million Mega Millions prize

Freighter stuck in sand on Lake Michigan outside Muskegons harbor

The rest is here:

Jenison marching bands history of really amazing students highlighted with Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade - MLive.com