“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” Usually the answer
involves family, lots of food, and watching football. For Anna Catherine
Barranco, the days leading up to Thanksgiving are going to be full of
preparation, practice, and perfection. The Montgomery Catholic senior was
chosen to be one of about 40 auxiliary members who will march alongside 185
musicians in the Macy’s Great American Marching Band in the Macy’s Thanksgiving
Day Parade. Led by Auburn University’s Dr. Richard Good, the band is comprised
of the country’s most talented high school musicians, flag-bearers, and
dancers.
Inspired by her favorite color guard YouTube channel, Anna
Catherine submitted an application and a video audition where she demonstrated
several skills and marching techniques that would be required for the parade
routine. She will travel to New York City on Saturday, November 17 and rehearse
with the rest of the band every day leading up to the parade on Thanksgiving
Day. While there are a lot of fun activities built into the week, the practice
schedule is demanding and requires a high level of dedication from each
performer. The Great American Marching Band is the last band on the parade
route and serves as a lead-in for Santa Claus.
Anna Catherine serves as the captain of the Montgomery
Catholic Marching Knights color guard, which has won several “Best-In-Class”
awards this season, and has been a member of the marching band for 5 years. She
plans to study pre-law at Auburn University in the fall, and of course will try
out for the flag line.
“I’ll probably be nervous the closer we get to
Thanksgiving,” Anna Catherine said about her upcoming performance, “but for
right now I am just really excited!”
You can watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on your
local NBC affiliate station on November 22. More information on how to watch or
stream it will be posted to the official website: www.macys.com/social/parade
