Ooltewah High School Marching Band's "unique and bold program" is earning the group the spotlight - and a spot in the Macy's Day Parade ... again.
Macy's Day Parade Creative Director Wesley Whatley said from "the band's music to costumes, they know how to entertain a crowd."
Ooltewah High School Marching Band receives its official invitation to again participate in the 2013 Macy's Day Parade. From left are OHS band director Joel Denton, his marching band students who are now seniors that marched as eighth-graders in the 2007 Macy's Day Parade; Macy's Day Parade Creative Director Wesley Whatley, second from right, and Macy's Day Parade Executive Producer Amy Kule.More than 150 applicants applied to perform; 11 were selected, according to him.
"When a band like Ooltewah applies, we know the quality we are getting," said Whatley, who still remembers the group's performance in the 2007 Macy's Day Parade. "They will be the only band representing the state of Tennessee in the 2013 Macy's Day Parade."
OHS Band Director Joel Denton said when Whatley contacted him to let him know the news that he was like a "kid again."
"Our performance in the Macy's Day Parade in 2007 gave us a national presence," said Denton. "We've gotten invitations to attend events all around the world ever since."
He said he will never forget that 2007 Thanksgiving performance.
"I had never experienced anything like it," said Denton of the parade. "It was the most spine-tingling experience I've ever had."
Many of the senior band members were eighth-graders when they took to the streets of New York in 2007, paving the way for next year's band members to follow in their footsteps.
"I told you if you worked hard great things happen, and it happened," said Denton to his band. "We've got great supporters."
He thanked OHS principal Mark Bean, Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith, Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger, District 9 school board member/chair Mike Evatt, District 9 Hamilton County Commissioner Chester Bankston and District 7 Hamilton County Commissioner Larry Henry, who were all present at the recent parade invitation celebration at the school.
"I want to congratulate you," said Smith, speaking to OHS Marching Band. "Your elected officials could not be more proud of you."
"You guys are the best of the best," Bean said. "Congratulations."
He said the average ACT score for OHS band students is 26. The average OHS overall ACT score is 19.9. Of the school's top 10 students, six are band members. Bean said he is proud of Denton and the band's successes.
The Macy's Day Parade officials in attendance at the ceremony presented the band with the 2013 Macy's Day drum head to hang on the wall.
"Put it up on your band room wall so that you can look up at it and be inspired over the next 18 months as you look forward to 2013," said Whatley. "This gentleman [Denton] is the reason why you are going."
Whatley asked all band students to throw confetti on Denton to officially thank him for helping the band enter the parade.
"The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is known for selecting only the best high school marching bands, and OHS exemplifies that tradition," said Macy's Day Parade Executive Producer Amy Kule. "The credit goes to the juniors and seniors. The freshmen and sophomores will have the pleasure of marching in the parade in 2013. Each band submits a DVD of their best performance and OHS rose to the top. They sent in their performance at Disney."
She was referring to the band's most recent performance in the 2011 Disney Christmas Parade in Orlando's Walt Disney World.