Switzerland County High School senior band member Aaron Deacon has been notified that he has earned a spot in the Great American Marching Band, which will march and perform in the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
He is one of only three high school students from the entire state of Indiana to earn this honor.
Aaron Deacon, a trumpet player, auditioned in July of this year along with two other Switzerland County students: D.J. Burrier on the trombone and Adam Kaczmarek on percussions.
The auditions were held as part of the Smith-Walbridge Marching Band Clinic held in Illinois; and the trio were unaware at the time of the auditions that their clinic director would also be named as the director of the Great American Marching Band.
The director was so impressed with the three Switzerland County musicians that all three were nominated for consideration.
Aaron Deacon received notification last Tuesday morning that he had earned a spot on the prestigious band.
Aaron Deacon will now travel to New York City on November 19th in preparation for the parade, and following practices with the other outstanding bandsmen from around the country, he will march in the November 23rd parade.
The band will lead the parade through Herald Square, which will be televised by NBC. It is expected that 2.5 million people will line the parade route, with another 50 million watching the parade on television.
Aaron was notified that the band’s parade music is “The Sousa Medley”; and its performance piece in Herald Square will be “Strike Up the Band/Word Up”. The band will then exit the Square by playing “Stars and Stripes!”.
On Monday and Tuesday evenings prior to the performance, the members of the band will have the opportunity to take part in a Scott Lang Leadership Seminar, which teaches students about leadership, success, teamwork, and utilizing everyone’s potential for success on and off of the musical stage.
The group will also take in several site seeing tours while in New York City, including the Empire State Building; and will see some shows.
Aaron Deacon is the son of Mark and Suzi Deacon of Vevay. Tammy Beitzel is the director of the Switzerland County Marching Pacer Band.