by Morgan Faulkenburg
New Prairie High School’s very own was out in the Macy’s Parade during Thanksgiving break in New York.
The Macy’s parade is a parade presented by the department store Macy’s. They have balloons, floats, performers and bands.
Haley DeMartinis, a senior, played the alto saxophone in the Macy’s band during the parade.
DeMartinis walked with many others from across the country in the march.
DeMartinis called it the “best experience” of her life.
“It was amazing. I’ve never met such genuine people,” said DeMartinis.
Her experience also allowed her time to make friends from many different places.
“I became close with a handful of people from across the country,” said DeMartinis. “At first it was intense and then it felt perfect. We had breaks though the parade. The crowd treated us like celebrities and wanted to take many pictures with us.”
To get into the Macy’s parade musicians have to send in an audition, but DeMartinis found another way in.
“Because I went to Smith Walbridge Drum Major Camp, I had an advantage of already being selected in the Macy’s band,” said DeMartinis.
The Macy’s band got together a couple of times during the week to practice their songs that they would be playing.
This was not DeMartinis’ first time in New York, however.
“The first time I went to New York was for my 16th birthday,” said DeMartinis.
DeMartinis follows 2017 graduate Jacob Kessler after he marched the Macy’s Parade two years in a row. Kessler is now a member of Indiana University’s Marching Hundred.
New Prairie High School’s gaining a tradition of students being asked to participate in the Macy’s parade.