“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” Usually the answer involves family, lots of food, and watching football. For Anna Catherine Barranco, the days leading up to Thanksgiving are going to be full of preparation, practice, and perfection. The Montgomery Catholic senior was chosen to be one of about 40 auxiliary members who will march alongside 185 musicians in the Macy’s Great American Marching Band in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Led by Auburn University’s Dr. Richard Good, the band is comprised of the country’s most talented high school musicians, flag-bearers, and dancers. Inspired by her favorite color guard YouTube channel, Anna Catherine submitted an application and a video audition where she demonstrated several skills and marching techniques that would be required for the parade routine. She will travel to New York City on Saturday, November 17 and rehearse with the rest of the band every day leading up to the parade on Thanksgiving Day. While there are a lot of fun activities built into the week, the practice schedule is demanding and requires a high level of dedication from each performer. The Great American Marching Band is the last band on the parade route and serves as a lead-in for Santa Claus.
Anna Catherine serves as the captain of the Montgomery Catholic Marching Knights color guard, which has won several “Best-In-Class” awards this season, and has been a member of the marching band for 5 years. She plans to study pre-law at Auburn University in the fall, and of course will try out for the flag line.
“I’ll probably be nervous the closer we get to Thanksgiving,” Anna Catherine said about her upcoming performance, “but for right now I am just really excited!”
You can watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on your local NBC affiliate station on November 22. More information on how to watch or stream it will be posted to the official website: www.macys.com/social/parade
