Band to march in parade

Michael Jackson, John Mellencamp and Hoagy Carmichael have at least one thing in common. They are all famous Hoosiers whose music will be showcased by the Bloomington High School North Marching Band in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.\nMore than 135 Bloomington High School North students and 100 parents are traveling to New York City for the nationally televised holiday spectacular.\nJackson's "Thriller", Mellencamp's "R.O.C.K in the U.S.A", and a medley of Carmichael songs including "Heart and Soul", "Stardust" and "Georgia on My Mind" are all part of the band's repertoire. "Back Home Again in Indiana" will finish off the band's set.\nTom Wilson, BHSN marching band director, chose these pieces to showcase the Hoosier spirit and honor the local stars.\n"It's a nice way to show off Indiana," Wilson said. \nThree tunes will be played on during the 2.25 mile parade route, with a 1 minute 30 second performance in front of the Macy's store at Herald Square.\nJanice Stockhouse, chairwoman of the BHSN music department said more than 300 high school bands applied and 11 were chosen. A portfolio, a professionally-made video of the marching band and a few audio CDs recorded by the band were all sent in to parade officials as part of the application process.\nPast travels for the band include the 1999 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., and a 16-day concert tour of Europe in 2002.\nWilson was informed that his students had been chosen to be in the parade last April, but practice did not start until the fall semester due to the competitive show for the marching band. Now that the competitive season is over, Wilson said, the students have spent two nights a week and Saturdays practicing the music.\n"We've really started working on it seriously, with the mini field show we do in front of Macy's and the Color Guard learning new choreography for the pieces," he said. "We also have started marching around the track at the high school to get our endurance up for the parade."\nBHSN senior Ryan Smith, who plays the mellophone in the band, said the students do not mind the extra practices because of the incredible opportunity.\n"The extra practices aren't too bad," Smith said. "A lot of people are pretty pumped and excited about it." \nSmith said she is very excited about being in the parade and going to New York.\n"I think it's awesome," Smith said. "I think it's an awesome opportunity to present the band to the entire nation and show them we're a powerful and well-rounded school in band."\nThe students will leave Bloomington the Sunday before Thanksgiving and return Friday, the day after the parade. In their down time, they will visit famous landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Ground Zero and of course, Macy's department store. New York's culture and art won't be wasted on these students, as they will be split up into groups to view six Broadway musicals, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and St. John's Cathedral, Stockhouse said. \nSmith said he is excited for the patriotic cites on the itinerary.\n"I really want to see the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero because those are probably the top two national tributes that represent the U.S," he said.\nFund-raising efforts began last summer for the trip, since the students are responsible for paying their own way. Car washes and raffles were held to raise money to cover the $475 personal cost for each student. Local Bloomington businesses also pitched in by donating prizes such as dinners, free movies and massages to also help the students.\n -- Contact staff reporter Julia Blanford at jblanfor@indiana.edu.