‘The little band that could’

PALMER — After a week in the Big Apple, the Colony High School Marching Band is back in the Last Frontier. This was a historic trip for the band and the state of Alaska. It was the first time an Alaskan marching band performed at the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, broadcast live across the country.

Colony’s music teacher and band instructor, Jamin Burton, has been to New York several times, both on his own and with groups of students. This group was the biggest he’s ever taken. After hundreds of hours of practice and preparation, jitters and joy, the epic performance down the streets of Manhattan was seen by many as the big pay-off as well as a bittersweet realization that is the first and last time this group of musicians will do something like this. The dust has settled and now Burton and his students are coming down from the rush and figuring what to do next.

“It exceeded my expectations,” Burton said.

Burton is exhausted. It’s the first week back in school and he’s playing catch-up. On Monday, he spent most of the day on the phone and on the computer. The journey through New York was jam-packed with activities. Band members and their accompanying family members went from one activity to the next, making the most of their time there. From Broadway musicals to visiting the Statue of Liberty, there was never a dull moment for the small town group in the big city.

“New York was incredible. Being a part of something so big was so special,” said marching band member Mike Herndon.

Herndon is a senior and plays the alto saxophone. He said that before their big performance, Burton told everyone to take a moment during the parade to look up and absorb the gravity of what they were doing. When Herndon took his moment to look around; he saw the crowd smiling from ear to ear, buzzing with excitement for the band. One of the band members held a sign saying they were from Alaska. Herndon said that a lot of people cheered for them and Alaska. Getting to that moment has been a long time coming, with many highs and lows in his life. Music in one form or another is a very important part of Herndon’s life and he said it always will be.

“Music gets me through it,” Herndon said.

Herndon said he must have watched the video of the band in the parade 100 times. Burton said the people at Macy’s were initially nervous about having such a small band in the parade. The band had 30 minutes to rehearse beforehand. Burton was sweating bullets prior to the big number, worrying they would be “overwhelmed in the big city.” When it was time to act, everyone hopped to it and they played professionally and could be heard far and wide. Herndon said he felt like they did just as well as the other, bigger bands.

“We’re the story of the little band that could,” Herndon said.

Herndon said that the performance went by like a blur and it was a huge rush. He noted that moments like that make a big elation but also leave a big void, so he feels urged to “hunt for that feeling.” He also lamented the realization that he will have to part with a group he has come to consider as close as family.

“It’s over; time to find something else. The hunt continues,” Herndon said.

Burton’s daughter, Marilia, is a freshman and plays the piccolo. She said she was very proud to be in the parade. The band practiced and prepared for the big day since January.

“It took a lot to get there; a lot of grit and determination,” Marilia said.

Marilia said she grew up with a lot of privileges and many responsibilities. Her father always made it clear that she figured out how to be self-sufficient. She taught herself how to play. She happens to share her father’s passion for music for music’s sake.

“Music itself is very beautiful. It’s fulfilling. It makes you feel like you have a purpose,” Marilia said.

Burton knows that only a handful of his students will pursue music after high school, but he firmly believes that the time spent making music strengthened their brains, and that the relationships they formed along the way will enrich their life for years to come.

“Music has to be a part of our educational system,” Burton said.

After the parade, the band went on a Thanksgiving Day Dinner Cruise through the New York Harbor. That is when the bittersweet feelings sunk in for many, students and parents alike. The students wore their best suits and dresses and danced the night away as the ship navigated through dark waters lit by thousands of city lights. Looking back, one band parent, Janel Gagnon, got teary-eyed when speaking about Burton and how much work he’s put into his students over the years and how large of a task the New York trip was.

“What an undertaking. He makes such a difference in these kids’ lives. I’m thankful for people like him,” Gagnon said.

Note: This trip was also very bountiful to the band. One student, Naomi Winders, wrote an essay and won $10,000 for herself and an additional $10,000 for the Colony High School marching band from the Bob Hope Band Scholarship Award.