Saturday- USC Marching Band 'dress rehearsal' route in Columbia ahead of Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

[DeeDave]

My wife and I will be down to watch tomorrow. Hopefully there will a nice crowd. Standing right next to the band when they are playing is quite a treat.

The band has been working hard on practice for the parade and still have more work to do but this will be a big help. I talked to a band member today and they will be playing a number of songs- mostly some of their music they play at games at the statehouse after the parade.

They are also still raising money for the Macy's trip. It's an expensive trip for 375 members. My wife and I recently donated along with my in-laws (father in law majored in music at USC and was in the band decades ago). My wife and I have decided to travel to New York to see it in person this year.

You can donate on the band's link online- and donate in someone's honor or memory. They still need donations.


Before they storm New York City on Thanksgiving, the University of South Carolina Marching Band is practicing their Macy's Day Parade routine through downtown Columbia.

The “Big Apple Sneak Peek” will kick off at 2 p.m. Oct. 26.

More than 375 student musicians will march down Greene Street, starting at Pickens Street, before hooking a right on Sumter Street and ending at the State House. After the march, the band will play a free concert on the State House's lawn, according to the university.

The dress rehearsal comes ahead of the band's appearance in the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, which kicks off early morning Nov. 28.

USC Marching Band playing 'dress rehearsal' route in Columbia ahead of Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

Before they're in New York City on Thanksgiving, the University of South Carolina Marching Band is practicing their Macy's Parade routine in downtown Columbia.

www.postandcourier.com

 

[DeeDave]

This was a lot of fun. There was a good crowd along the route and at the state house for the mini-concert.

 

[sclawman77]

Just watched them perform in the parade on tv. Nice work, Carolina band.

 

[bucketdad]

Premo spot right before Snoopy. Doesn't get much better than that! Nice

 

[DeeDave]

Just returned from New York.

The band did outstanding. They also performed a concert at Pier 16 (Near the Brooklyn Bridge and outside the Seaport Museum) on Wednesday morning with the UMASS band. They took turns playing some songs and it was a great scene with a big crowd.

One of the UMASS assistant directors is a grad of South Carolina's School of Music (Bachelors and Masters) and she was pointed out during the concert and got to conduct the UMASS band in a song.

The rain was harder than it appeared on tv. It wasn't a downpour but it was coming down steady and it was in the mid 40s so I saw a lot of young people that were quite cold but the band looked tougher than some groups I saw in the parade. They received a lot of cheers from the crowds watching.

A group of band members played at The Today show on Wednesday morning. They had a 4am call time.

Yesterday morning, the band had to be up and on the move for one last practice for the parade at 2:30am. Then they had to wait until after 9am to start in the parade itself (parade started at 8:30 but the band was the 8th marching band to appear out of 11 marching bands).

This morning they were scheduled to be on the road from their hotel at 6am. It's one very tired but accomplished group that is pulling into Greenville this evening for yet another early wake up call tomorrow morning for the Clemson game.

I know some members were going on 2 hours of sleep in a 36 hour period (especially the ones that also were on The Today Show). That's tough, especially since the band's schedule was full during the days in New York too (not much time to sleep at the hotel).

My family was exhausted just trying to show up for the parade and the concert on Wednesday. So I can't imagine how tired the band members are at this point.