Colony band to march at Macy's

PALMER — Apprehension turned into excitement then into smiles, screams, hugs, and cheers in the Colony High School auditorium Thursday.

Thee Northern Sound will become the first marching band to represent Alaska in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 23, 2017 in New York City, one of 10 high school marching bands selected for the honor. When parade creative director Wesley Whatley announced the news to a room full of students who had to first be told they weren’t in trouble, the auditorium exploded.

“We flew in yesterday because we want to share with you that for the very first time in the State of Alaska’s history, Colony High School will represent the great state of Alaska and perform in New York City in the 2017 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” he said.

Whatley said parade officials first considered the band out of a sense of novelty, but that eventually grew into respect for their musical talent.

“Then, when we actually watched the video, we were blown away by their great sound, for being such a small band,” he said. “That’s not always the case. They’re small, but they really do have this unifying great sound.”

Bouts of applause and cheers frequently interrupted speakers, like parade executive producer Amy Kule. Hundreds of marching bands applied for a chance to participate in the annual parade, which is typically broadcast nationally and viewed by as many as 50 million television viewers stuffed with turkey and cranberry sauce. About 9,000 people march in the parade, which is seen by about 3.5 million spectators in person. The Colony High School marching band will join bands from Utah, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Michigan, among others.

Thee Northern Sound could stand among the best bands in the country, Kule said.

“I know that you guys can handle that,” she said. “You’re from a big state, the little band that could, I know in the next two years you’re gonna ramp up and go beyond the numbers that you are. You are gonna wow just about everybody who’s gonna be watching that parade. And I have great faith that you’ll not only make the State of Alaska proud, your parents proud, this school district proud, but you’re going to make everybody in America proud.”

The loudest cheers went up when band director Jamin Burton stepped to the center stage.

“We use those three words every practice: tradition, respect, honor,” he said. “You’ve built something where there was nothing. And you put in a ton of work and you built this program. And you act in a way that represents yourselves, your school, your families, your class and I’m proud of you. I think you absolutely deserve this, and we have a ton of work, musically, artistically, logistically, fundraising.”

“We’re going to New York,” Burton added.

Students largely said the news had caught them by surprise, even for a band whose members have marched in the Rose Bowl and competed in the Grand National Championship

“It was incredible,” said junior snare drummer Dylan Blohm. “We have just done so much and we’re excited to do more.”

Freshman trombone player Emily Sager, 15, struggled to contain her excitement.

“When I found out the news, I was just so overwhelmed with happiness, I was just so happy,” she said.

Contact reporter Brian O’Connor at 352-2270, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.