Musical selections announced for 2016 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade marching bands

Massive Hawaii All-State Band among the 2016 Macy's Parade lineup

NEW YORK (Nov. 16, 2016) — A powerful lineup of marching bands will entertain viewers with a wide variety of music during the 90th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade will feature nearly 3,000 band members performing in high school, university, military and all-star marching bands. The groups will perform for more than 3.5 million spectators and 50 million television viewers nationwide during the 2016 spectacle which steps off at 9:00 AM on Thursday, November 24.

One of the unique entries is the Hawaii All-State Marching Band which boasts 620 members representing 40 different schools on four Hawaiian islands. Although the students have been rehearsing in small groups throughout the year, the full band does not rehearse together until the members arrive on the mainland just five days before the parade.

For all of the invited marching bands, their Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade journey began more than 18 months ago, when Macy's officials extended invitations to participate in the 2016 parade. Selection into the Macy's Parade was based on submitted videos of past performances, awards, national recognition, letters of recommendation and each band's unique personality to captivate an audience. Since their selection, the marching bands have been busy perfecting their skills and raising funds for their trip to New York City.

See related stories:
A day in the life of a Macy's Parade marching band

Following is the list of marching units appearing in the 90th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, along with the musical selections that will be performed during their televised appearance in Herald Square:

The Hawaii All-State Band last appeared in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2011, pictured here during overnight rehearsal. The band returning in 2016 has nearly doubled in size to 620 members.

The Hawaii All-State Band last appeared in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2011, pictured here during overnight rehearsal. The band returning in 2016 has nearly doubled in size to 620 members.

Cary Senior High School Marching Band
Cary, North Carolina
Band Director: Matthew Minick
Band Size: 180
34th Street performance: "The Incredibles"

Grain Valley High School Marching Eagles
Grain Valley, Missouri
Band Director: Reid Atkinson
Band Size: 185
34th Street performance: "Universal: Be Thou My Vision"

Greendale High School Marching Band
Greendale, Wisconsin
Band Director: Tom Reifenberg
Band Size: 270
34th Street performance: "Step in Time," Mary Poppins

Harrison High School Marching Band
Kennesaw, Georgia
Band Director: Josh Ray
Band Size: 190
34th Street performance: Medley of "Shut Up and Dance" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"

Hendrickson High School Marching Band
Pflugerville, Texas
Band Director: Garth Gundersen
Band Size: 353
34th Street performance: "Ode to Joy"

Joe E. Newsome High School Marching Band
Lithia, Florida
Band Director: Michael Miller
Band Size: 163
34th Street performance: Sunshine Medley

Macy's Great American Marching Band
Students from schools across the country
Band Director: Dr. Rick Good
Band Size: 250
34th Street performance: It's Not Unusual

Na Koa Ali'l Hawaii All-State Marching Band
The State of Hawaii
Band Director: John Riggle
Band Size: 621
34th Street performance: Drums of the Island and "Pate Pate"

NYPD Marching Band
New York Police Department, New York, New York
Band Director: Lt. Tony Giorgio
Band Size: 50
34th Street performance: National Emblem March

Prospect High School Marching Knights
Prospect, Illinois
Band Director: Chris Barnum
Band Size: 190
34th Street performance: "Buddy and Santa's Flight," Elf

United States Military Academy Band
West Point, New York
Band Director: Major Sergeant Christopher Jones
Band Size: 57
34th Street performance: West Point Joyful Fanfare

The West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band
Morgantown, West Virginia
Band Director: Jay Drury
Band Size: 385
34th Street performance: "Strike up the Band"

In addition to the marching bands, the following performance groups will appear in the 90th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade:

Kilgore Rangerettes
Kilgore, Texas
Group Director: Dana Blair
Group Size: 75
34th Street Performance: Hooked on Marching...the Stars & Stripes Forever

National Dance Institute
New York, New York
Group Director: Ellen Weinstein
Group Size: 120
34th Street Performance: Harlem Night Song

Sayat Nova Dance Company
Waltham, Massachusetts
Group Director: Garen Avetissyan
Group Size: 50
34th Street Performance: Vabouragan

Spirit of America Cheer
Students from schools across the country
Group Director: Roger Hayes
Group Size: 550
34th Street Performance: ROBO-Cheer

Spirit of America Dance Stars
Students from schools across the country
Group Director: Laura Davis
Group Size: 550
34th Street Performance: 90th Celebration

Tap Dancing Christmas Trees
Alameda, California
Group Director: Pamm Drake
Group Size: 50
34th Street Performance: Tap routine to a holiday classic

Further information on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade can be obtained by calling the Parade Hotline at (212) 494-4495 or by visiting www.macys.com/parade.

See more information on Marching.com about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Text and logo courtesy of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo by Marching.com.

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Musical selections announced for 2016 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade marching bands