Houston Students to March in MacyS Thanksgiving Day Parade
Two Houston students are preparing to represent the city on a national stage as members of the Macy’s Great American marching Band, set to perform in the iconic Thanksgiving Day Parade. Sarah Bockhahn and Ethan Jehlik will travel to New York City this Saturday for a rigorous schedule of rehearsals leading up to the nationally televised event.
This year’s participation marks a meaningful achievement for both students and their local programs. The Macy’s Great American Marching Band brings together high school and college musicians from across the country, offering a unique prospect for artistic growth and national recognition. For Bockhahn and Jehlik, the parade appearance could be a launching pad for future musical endeavors as they prepare for college.
Bockhahn, who has never visited New York City, expressed her anticipation, stating, “I don’t think it’ll feel real until I look out of the plane window and see the whole city.” Jehlik, a returning visitor but first-timer in winter, is eager to experience performing in colder temperatures. “I just want to see how cold it is during winter,” he said.
Both students plan to continue their musical pursuits in college. Jehlik intends to play in college and perhaps participate in competitive marching beyond his studies, while Bockhahn, planning to study crime scene investigation at either West Texas A&M or UNT, hopes to continue with color guard for several more years.
Bockhahn credits her success to the coaching staff, particularly Kelsey Hernandez, saying, “Without her help and her creating this good of a program, I wouldn’t have had this great opportunity.” Jehlik emphasized the honor of representing Houston, adding, “It’s like such an honor, because I know kids now, they’re looking up to me, because I represent them and I want to represent them well. It’s really such an honor and I hope that me doing this makes you realize that you can do it too. If you work for it, you can do it.”
