Green Valley High School Symphonic Band guest conductor Cecil Myers, left, and Green Valley High School principal Jeff Horn hold up a bass drum head they received for the 2010 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade during their Spring Music Concert at the Henderson Pavilion on Wednesday.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 | 11:32 p.m.
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The 59 members of Green Valley High School's symphonic band knew something was up during the spring concert Wednesday night.
But the announcement at the end of the 1 1/2-hour performance still came as a surprise -- the band is going to march in the Macy's Parade on Thanksgiving Day 2010.
"That is crazy," said senior Nicole Ayala, 18, a violinist who stayed with friends to watch the band perform after the orchestra finished its portion of the concert. "How cool is that?"
Brad Snadecki, 16, a sophomore French horn player, said the band members had been told that some announcement this week would change the band's future. Baritone player Kelvin Haywood, 16, a sophomore, thought maybe the band was going to get a new building. He'd also heard a rumor that Diane Koutsulis, who has been the school's band director since it opened 18 years ago, was announcing her retirement.
"She put that one to rest," Snadecki said.
Instead, Kimberly Singleton, store manager of the Henderson Macy's store, came on stage with a banner and a sign that said "Macy's Parade 2010" and made the announcement that the band had been chosen as one of just over a dozen high school bands for the honor. It is the only band in Clark County to receive the honor, Koutsulis said.
It is the latest for the band that played Carnegie Hall in 2005, went to Rome last year and marched in the Inaugural Parade this year.
Koutsulis said keeping the secret was not easy, but she managed.
"My parents are here, and they didn't know," she said.
The band has 18 months to raise money for the trip. Koutsulis said she has no idea yet how much will be needed, but she was confident the money would be there when the time comes.
Snadecki, who will be a senior when the band heads to New York, said he is excited for the trip. His brother was in the band when it went to Carnegie Hall.
"Now I get to play there and be on TV in the Macy's Parade," he said.
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