Greendale Marching Band Selected For Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

GREENDALE, WI — Students in the Greendale High School Marching Band learned Thursday they were selected to represent Wisconsin in the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The high school band was selected out of over 100 applicants, with only 10 attaining the parade slot. The announcement came with a $10,000 donation from Macy's, and the band will spend the next year and a half planning, rehearsing and fundraising for the parade appearance, according to a news release from Macy's.

The announcement has brought excitement to students in the band. Greendale Sophomore Ben Wimmer, who plays the snare drum, told Patch in a statement that being selected "is really an honor for not just our band, but for our school and community as a whole."

The band will join the parade to the call of a song that has marked the beginning of every Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1924: "Let's Have a Parade."

The opportunity means a lot to the entire band, Sienna Urban, a sophomore who plays the bass clarinet told Patch in a statement.

"It really helps put all the hard work and effort we've put in over the years into perspective," Urban said. "Getting an opportunity like this is what we work so hard for, and I'm happy to know our hard work has paid off."

The band will march alongside floats, huge inflatable characters, clowns, celebrities and more in the two-mile parade on Thanksgiving Day 2023.

"The entire Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade experience is incredible, and I cannot wait for this group of students and their families to witness the magic around this entire event,'' said Marching Band Director Tom Reifenberg in the news release. “It is truly an honor to represent Wisconsin both on the streets of New York and in front of a nationwide television audience of millions. Let's have a parade!"

Wesley Whatley, the parade's creative director, commended the Greendale High School Band for its 16 state championship titles and other accolades. The band has "some of the finest high school music students in the country," Whatley said.

Wimmer said the announcement has brought a little bit of nervousness. Wimmer will be a senior when the day comes.

"The Senior Class will be looked upon to help lead the underclassmen through this incredible experience. We will have learned so much from our previous Senior Classes and will take much of that with us into our Senior Year to make sure our band is together as a whole," Wimmer said. "We will also be working on endurance, as the parade route will be a few miles."

Urban said the news has brought some nerves, but also excitement.

"Millions of people will be watching this parade which will make it a lot of fun," Urban said. "We are going to continue to work hard to prepare to walk through the streets of New York as one Band Family."

Neither Wimmer nor Urban has been to New York City before, but both say they are excited to see it. Wimmer is looking forward to seeing the city lights at night time in person, while Urban is looking forward to seeing the buildings, people and famous landmarks.