The Pride of West Virginia Mountaineer Marching Band is set to perform in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time since 2016.
The Pride is one of 12 college bands invited to perform at the annual, nationally-televised parade.
Cheldon Williams, associate director of bands and director of athletic bands at WVU, referred to the opportunity as an honor, an exciting milestone and a serious responsibility for the band.
“It's the thrill of a lifetime and the gold standard for parades, especially for college marching bands but also for high school bands. After the initial excitement, the seriousness and weight of it all set in. While others are excited, we’ve moved well into the work required to make it happen,” he said.
Preparations are underway for members, including choreographing a routine and collecting funds to cover travel and lodging expenses.
“Preparations are ongoing. We’re selecting the repertoire, training students for marching, and working on choreography. Fundraising is a huge part of our focus right now, as we’re still about $30,000 short. We’re working closely with our development office to secure the donations we need,” Williams said.
The Pride participates in multiple performances throughout the year, drawing in crowds at WVU Football home games and statewide events, such as the Mountain State Forest Festival, which took place in early October in Elkins, West Virginia. The parade will mark one of the ensemble's largest audiences, as millions of viewers tune in to the Thanksgiving Day Parade, which has taken place since 1924, according to nyc.gov.
Dylan McCumbers, a freshman alto saxophone player in the Pride, said he is thrilled to represent West Virginia through the band’s performance.
“You get one chance, you get one opportunity, you're in front of, you're being broadcast to millions of people, and you're representing the entire state of West Virginia as an entity,” he said.
McCumbers said he is excited to shed light on the Mountain State as he takes on the Big Apple.
“It’s really awesome to be a part of something that represents West Virginia in a positive and uplifting light.”
Senior Pride member Tyler Fetty described the event as the “pinnacle” of marching band performances, saying he is excited to share the experience with the rest of the band.
“The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is like the biggest event that a marching band can experience,” he said. “It is the pinnacle of what marching bands can do.”
Fetty is a member of the trumpet section and said the band has felt an overwhelming amount of support from the community throughout its preparation for the parade.
“We’re definitely feeling the love this year, more than ever, with Macy’s coming up. People are so excited and supportive, and some even plan to come to New York to watch us,” he said. “Many have also donated to our travel fund, which is so kind.”
Zoe Zenker, a senior mellophone player, said that the Pride has impacted many community members, noting an interaction she had during the band's performance at the Mountain State Forest Festival.
“We did a parade in Elkins, West Virginia, and a lady stopped our band director while we were marching through and told him she has never traveled out of state but is traveling to watch us perform,” she said. “Hearing her say she is traveling out of state for the first time to watch us perform is insane.”
Those who want to support the Pride of West Virginia as it prepares for its performance can donate on the Give WVU website. Contributions will be used to cover travel expenses.