The East Tennessee State University Marching Bucs are making history as they headed to New York City Sunday for the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The band , with many local musicians from our area schools , is the first collegiate marching band from Tennessee in over 60 years to perform in the parade.
Led by Dr. Joe Moore, who revived ETSU’s marching band program in 2014, the Marching Bucs have grown from a fledgling group to a powerhouse ensemble of over 360 performers.
“The band is a beacon of ETSU pride,” said Moore. “We’re excited to take that spirit with us to New York City and show the world what the Marching Bucs can do.”
The band’s schedule is packed with iconic New York experiences.
Arriving on Tuesday, the Marching Bucs will explore Times Square and attend a Broadway performance. On Wednesday, the Color Guard and Majorettes will perform before the world-famous Radio City Rockettes® on stage for the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes® presented by QVC. The night before Thanksgiving, the band will tour Manhattan landmarks, including Central Park and the Empire State Building, before enjoying a group dinner in the city.
Thanksgiving morning, the Marching Bucs will step off from Central Park West and march through the streets of Manhattan, performing for millions of viewers along the parade route and on live television. After the parade, they’ll gather for a Thanksgiving dinner overlooking the New York City skyline.
The road to New York has not been easy.
Just weeks before their departure, many band members faced unexpected challenges in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which devastated portions of Southern Appalachia.
ETSU Marching Bucs sousaphone player Corey Luttrell was safe in Johnson City, just about 30 miles away from their family’s home in hard-hit Carter County. But while Luttrell was sheltered from the storm’s immediate impact, their thoughts were consumed with worry for their family – especially their paralyzed grandmother, living alone in a small community now isolated by flooding and storm damage.
For three agonizing weeks, Luttrell had no way of reaching their grandmother and was left wondering if she was safe. Only recently did they learn of the extraordinary kindness of neighbors in their grandmother’s community. Strangers had brought food and water to their grandmother, and others had delivered critical medical supplies and insulin to other family members in these isolated areas.
Luttrell reflected, “The way the community came together to help each other has restored my faith in humanity. Even little communities can do big things to help people.”
For Moore, the parade performance is a testament to the band’s growth and spirit.
“Our students have put in countless hours, and it hasn’t always been easy, especially with everything our region has been through recently. But their dedication and passion for music have carried us here,” he said. “We’re ready to bring our best to New York and make ETSU and Tennessee proud.”
Get the latest information on the band, including how to watch the performance, support the journey and apply to join the Marching Bucs, at etsu.edu/parade.
