Local high school band chosen to march in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas - Thanksgiving Day more than 30-million people across the world will be tuning into the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade." Central Texans had a reason to watch as a local high school was chosen to march in the parade.         

The Hawk Band from Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville was one of only eight high school bands across the U.S chosen to perform. It was years in the making for the students, and all their hard work paid off as they marched in Manhattan in front of millions. Liz Ross is a senior at the high school and one of the band members, “It's the opportunity of a lifetime. We marched in the Chicago Parade my freshman year and I remember spending a lot time thinking about ‘Oh what about the Macy's parade? We've heard about this thing, it's something only the best bands go to, it's crazy,’” she said.

But it’s now a reality for her and the rest of the band, “It's really exciting, and makes you feel special, makes you feel like you're one of the big dogs,” she said.

Marching bands are a central piece of the Thanksgiving parade that draws in 3 million people watching from the streets in NYC and more than 30-million tuning in through the television. Garth Gundersen is the Band Director, “It's a huge honor not only to represent Texas but city of Pflugerville.” He said he has seen the band grow from 53 students when the school opened to now more than 400. He said each and every one of them have put in endless hours in practicing for the Macy’s Parade. “This is just the fruition of all those hours of practice that have led to this one particular moment.” He said the Hawk Nation Band will make Texas proud. “We're just excited to bring a lot of energy to the parade and the Texas quality that everybody expects from the way our kids play their instruments,” he said.