Alabama’s Million Dollar Band to perform in 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

TUSCALOOSA – The Million Dollar Band at the University of Alabama has accepted an invitation to march and perform in the 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The band will represent the state of Alabama in New York City on Nov. 26, 2020. Their 2020 performance will mark the first appearance by the UA band in the iconic parade.

“It’s fitting that the UA Million Dollar Band, one of the most respected university marching bands in the country, will be performing in one of the largest parades in the world,” UA President Stuart R. Bell said. “What Alabama fans have enjoyed on Saturdays will now be shared with more than 50 million people, live on television on the streets of New York.”

“We’re honored by the invitation, and I couldn’t be more pleased by the work of these talented student musicians,” Bell said.

Dr. Ken Ozzello, UA Professor of Music and Director of Bands, said the Macy’s parade is an iconic holiday tradition. “Having the opportunity to participate will be thrilling for the members of the Million Dollar Band and provide them with lifelong memories.”

Several members of the Million Dollar Band are Madison residents:

* Drum Majors — Matt Day and John Schumacher.

* Woodwinds — Katie Applebaum, piccolo; Madison Emmons, clarinet; David Gereski, alto saxophone; Meghan Mackey, piccolo; Adrian Martinez, tenor saxophone; Sarah Paul, Isabelle Spence and Lucy Thom, piccolo; and Grey Vandeberg, alto saxophone.

* Brass — Calib Missildine, baritone; Ian Rigby, trumpet; and Justin Welch, trumpet.

* Percussion — Jarrett Moore, snare drum.

* Color Guard — Mary Allen.

Each year, the Macy’s Parade Band Committee looks for bands with stage presence and musical and marching abilities to captivate more than 3.5 million live spectators and the television audience. The Million Dollar Band was selected from more than 100 applicants as one of nine bands to march in the parade’s 94th edition.

To prepare, the UA band will work on its marching technique, along with the ‘standstill’ portion of the parade that NBC will televise, Ozzello said. “It will be a challenge to stage 400 musicians and performers in front of Macy’s, but the staff is eagerly looking forward to taking on that challenge.”

For more than 90 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has marked the official start of the holiday season. Growing in size and scale, the parade proudly marches down its route stretching more than two miles in NYC.

For more information, visit macys.com/parade.