MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Thanksgiving will begin early for two University High School juniors.
Percussionist Annalie Durbin and flutist Julia Pinn will wake to a 2 a.m. alarm in New Jersey.
By 3 a.m. the girls and 248 other marching band members from across the country will be in New York City for rehearsals at Herald Square.
“I’m a little nervous. I don’t really know how much time it’s going to take to prepare everyone and what it’s going to be like to perform in front of so many people. So, that’s a little overwhelming. But, it is the most talented kids across the country,” Pinn described.
Durbin and Pinn auditioned to perform in the 89th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as part of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band (MGAMB).
“It starts with the individual students,” said UHS Marching Band Director Mark Palmer. “They’re very hard workers. They’re very good musicians.”
Students represent each of the 50 states. The band, performing in its 10th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, is made up of 185 musicians and 40 flags and dancers.
Durbin marched in the 2014 parade.
“You’re basically in for a great experience. Honestly, it was one of the best weeks of my life. I met so many new people from all over the country,” she said.
Pinn and Durbin left for New York Saturday. The week has included sightseeing, rehearsals and leadership workshops.
“It definitely shines a nice spotlight on us. We’re very proud of the program and the things we’re able to accomplish,” Palmer said of having UHS marching band members chosen for the MGAMB. “When you have something like this, it’s kind of a feather in the cap to say the least.”
Durbin and Pinn will step off from Central Park among celebrity performers, the massive balloons and festive floats.
They’ll march the 2.5 mile parade route before 3 million live spectators and 50 million people who tune into the parade on TV.