Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band to perform in 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Fishers High School marching band members Addy Thomas and Katy Delaney thought it might be possible.

Members of the Marching Tiger Band were called to the band room for an announcement on Tuesday morning.

They thought it could be a trip announcement. But could it be the biggest holiday parade of all?

With band members in their seats, Chad Kohler, director of athletic bands for the high school, introduced “a good friend of our program.” Wesley Whatley greeted the band and told them it was not just a good morning, but a great morning.

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“It’s about to be a fantastic morning here in Fishers, Indiana,” he said. “I come with a little good news.”

It’s news that had never happened at the school before – The Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band was selected for the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The students erupted in cheers and applause.

For Delaney, a junior, the announcement means she’ll lead the band as drum major on the streets of New York City. She said being the drum major at any parade is special, but this one was extra special because it is “in front of the whole world.”

Thomas, a sophomore who plays flute and piccolo, added that she was excited to be in the parade she watches each year.

“It’s a dream come true for my younger self,” she said.

First trip to Macy's parade for Fishers

The Fishers band will be the third central Indiana high school band in three years to be in the famous holiday parade.

The Sound of Brownsburg Marching Band from Brownsburg High School was in the 2021 Macy's parade and the Carmel High School Marching Band was selected for this year's parade. 

Before that, the last Indiana bands were Center Grove in 2014 and Concord in 2013. Carmel was also in the parade in 2011.

Whatley, creative producer for the parade who also leads the selection committee, praised the Fishers band for their artistry, pageantry, storytelling and musicianship. He told the students that their band is “world class and deserves a national stage.”

“I want you to know with sincerity, what you put on the field is extraordinary," he said.

Fishers was one of 10 bands selected for the 2023 parade from more than 100 applications, parade organizers said. Each of the selected bands is the only band from their state, and the 2023 bands include three colleges, one cultural marching band and six high schools.

Added members due to delayed trip

The Marching Tiger Band typically goes on a trip to perform every other year. Their previous trips include the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, Hollywood Christmas Parade and Walt Disney World Main Street Parade, per the band's website.

But the 2021 trip was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So when it can time to apply for a 2023 trip, Kohler, the director, said they decided to apply for the Macy’s parade because the band was ready for the national stage.

Plus – Macy’s is the pinnacle and the best, he said.

The Fishers band has about 250 members between band and color guard, and the band going to the Macy's parade will likely have a few extra members – this year’s seniors will be able to join the performance as well since they missed last year’s trip.

Kohler said the music that the band will perform is in the design stage, and students will start learning it in June. But don’t expect to know what it is just yet – that’s a secret, he said.

Sharing traditions from parade day

During the Tuesday morning announcement, Whatley from Macy’s also shared a few traditions with the students.

First, he presented them with a drumhead with the parade logo and year on it. He said all the drums will have this on parade day and this can serve as an inspiration as they prepare.

Additionally, the Macy's parade team gave the band $10,000 to start its fundraising to attend the parade.

Whatley also told the students what parade day is like: 3.5 million spectators on the street – many of them high up in buildings and waving down – plus 30 million people watching on TV.

“There’s nothing like being in New York City on Thanksgiving,” he said. “It’s electric.”

And the parade has started the same way since it started more than 90 years ago, he said. To practice that start, students were each handed confetti and asked to join Whatley in the phrase that signals the start.

“We count down from five, four, three, two, one,” he said. “And the phrase ‘Let’s have a parade’ echoes across the Upper West Side.”

Call IndyStar education reporter MJ Slaby at 317-447-1586 or email her at mslaby@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @mjslaby.