A prestigious honor
Brownsville freshman chosen for Macy’s Great American Band
Paul Paterra/Observer-Reporter
Notice: Undefined variable: article_ad_placement3 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/single.php on line 128
A Brownsville Area High School freshman has been selected to participate in the prestigious Great American Marching Band for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Catherine “Caty” Moran is one of nearly 200 high school musicians who will perform on the streets of New York City next November.
“It’s my first year trying out, so I didn’t think I was going to get in,” she said. “I was really, really surprised. I was more in shock.”
The Great American Marching Band was created exclusively for the parade. Since its debut in 2006, the band has brought together top musicians from high schools nationwide, complemented by about 30 flags and nine dancers.
Moran, who will perform on the piccolo, also plays the flute, tenor sax, oboe, and alto and tenor sax. She also plays fife in the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts fife and drum unit.
To audition, Moran, 15, had to prepare a video of herself performing a solo as well as marching. She chose to play Mozart’s “Sonata” for her audition.
The Macy’s parade is the country’s second-oldest Thanksgiving parade and has been held nearly every year since 1924, typically attracting 3.5 million spectators and watched by more than 50 million television viewers.
Moran said she will arrive in New York about a week before the parade to rehearse with the other students chosen for the band.
“We’ll rehearse every other day with everybody,” she said.
Moran is a member of the Brownsville Area High School Marching Band, as well as the school’s jazz and vocal bands.
She is the first musician affiliated with the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts to be chosen for the Great American Marching Band.
“Caty is one of our shining stars,” said Annette Buffer, MVAA president. “I think she has a bright future in music. Her selection for the Great American Marching band at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is a testament to her dedication, talent, and the supportive environment we strive to provide at MVAA.”
In addition to the fife and drum unit, Moran performs with the academy’s TC Junior Stage Band, Sam Bill Legacy Band and Voicez on Fire.
Moran also has been selected to perform with honors bands at West Virginia, Susquehanna and Ohio State universities as well as the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Junior High Honors Band.