Green Valley High band’s experience ‘surreal’ at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

By Dylan Scott

Published Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010 | 11:28 a.m.

Updated Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010 | 5:17 p.m.

The Green Valley High School marching band strutted its stuff Thursday morning on the streets of New York at the 84th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Director of Bands Diane Koutsulis said the experience, which took the group past Central Park and through Times Square while hundreds of thousands lined the sidewalks, was "surreal."

"Really, it's hard to describe," she said Thursday shortly after the festivities ended. "Once you step off, it's almost emotional. There are so many people cheering you on."

As for the students, Koutsulis said they held up under the pressure. The band brought a Las Vegas vibe to the Big Apple, playing Frank Sinatra favorite "Luck Be a Lady" as its featured tune. For a streetside performance, Koutsulis said the band chose "Viva Las Vegas" and Lady Gaga's "Poker Face." Some in the crowd felt compelled to move to the beat, she said.

The day started at 2 a.m. for the band. The band members reported to the parade's starting point on 77th Street at 3 a.m., ran a brief practice, took their position and then waited in line for hours until the parade began at 9 a.m.

Green Valley's music program isn't done for the weekend: On Sunday, the symphonic band and orchestra will play at Carnegie Hall. Graduate Kevin Wu, who is studying for his master's degree at the University of Southern California, will join his former school for its show, which will include a performance of "Angels in the Architecture" by Frank Ticheli, among other pieces.

It will be the second time in four years the band and orchestra have played at Carnegie Hall, Koutsulis said. The marching band also performed at President Barack Obama's inauguration last year.

About 200 students and parents made the trip. Through donations and assistance from parents, Koutsulis said in the past year the program was able to raise $325,000 for the trip.

"We are so proud to represent Las Vegas and Las Vegas schools," Koutsulis said. "We have kids who work really, really had. We're so grateful to the community for supporting us."