WVU Band to Perform in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

 

The West Virginia University Marching Band, The Pride of West Virginia has been selected to perform in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Out of 175 applicants, WVU was 1 of 10 bands chosen to perform.

  Wesley Whatley, creative director of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade said “As soon as we saw the halftime show from last fall, the committee responded to the energy and responded to the crowd response. The band is there to entertain the crowd, and we know that will translate to the New York streets for us,”

This will be the band's first time in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade which airs on NBC and is viewed by  over 50 million people and their first televised parade. 

“We’re excited about the opportunity,” said Jay Drury, the school’s director of athletic bands, “We’re very honored and humbled to be selected. We’re excited to have the opportunity to represent the state university on the world’s biggest stage in New York.''

Though it has not been confirmed, it is expected for the band to perform its take on John Denver's "Take me home, Country Roads" that was arranged in a medley by Professor, James Miltenberger.

“We want bands to celebrate their culture and history and identity in whatever way they like. We don’t ask about holiday songs, just anything the band loves as long as it is high energy and entertaining.” Whatley said.

This was WVU's first year applying to perform in the parade. They sent in footage from last fall where they performed an Armed Forces Tribute. They had to submit their application before the deadline of March 1st and the announcement that they had been selected was April, 25th.

 With 19 months to go before the parade takes place November 24, 2016 the West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band has plenty of time to prepare, and I'm sure that they will give a wonderful performance.