Clovis North band is ready for prime time. How it made Macy’s parade dream a reality
Clovis North High School Marching Band members are stoked.
Thursday afternoon, as band members finished an afternoon practice, “Someone shouted, ‘Only three days to New York!’ and everyone began jumping,” said band director David Lesser.
The Bronco Band will leave Sunday for The Big Apple to be part of the floats, giant balloons and superstar performers at the 96th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, playing selections from “The Nutcracker” ballet as they march the 2.5-mile parade route through Manhattan.
Raising money for the trip
The Clovis North community has been anticipating this since April 2021, when the band was invited. With about 175 members making the trip, it projected the need to raise nearly $500,000.
Fortunately, it was Clovis North’s year to receive new uniforms, so the band will put its best foot forward in new outfits costing about $150,000. Grant money was also available, and an anonymous benefactor came forward with $200,000.
“A giant thank you to that donor,” Lesser said.
The band is the first from Clovis Unified to be in the event since 2000. Clovis West made appearances in 1989, 1995 and 2000.
Clovis North is one of four high school bands chosen out of more than 100 applicants.
Dream come true
“Since June, the kids have been working really hard,” said Lesser.
“This is a very young group. Over 60% of the band are ninth- and 10th-graders. I am proud of their positive attitude. Each day they are learning a little bit more about the relentless pursuit of excellence.”
Said senior saxophone section leader Jack Lawrence:
“I’ve known about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since as long as I can remember.
“My parents would tell me about it. They would put it on TV Thanksgiving morning and we would watch. It was exciting when we found out (about the invitation). I didn’t even think it would be a possibility for us to go when I signed up for band in high school, so it is actually really exciting!”
It’s also a dream come true for Lesser, who said that he has wanted to be a music teacher since he was in the eighth grade.
He added that he has four lifetime goals: To have a band perform at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, which happened in 2017; the Music for All Concert festival in Indianapolis, which he realized in 2017; and the California All State Music Educator’s Conference, which happened in 2016. The Macy’s parade will put a ribbon on it.
“I (am) extremely humbled to be able to accomplish them all,” he said.
Send-off and how to watch
Sunday, parents, friends, school leadership and students will send the band off at 6:15 a.m. at the Clovis North bus parking lot.
The parade will be televised in all time zones 9 a.m.-noon on NBC (KSEE-24) and Peacock.
