Franklin Regional band returns to Macy's parade for the first time since 2009

Franklin Regional students Amanda Zegarelli and JoJo Huczko have a name for the piano they will push 2-1/2 miles along New York City streets in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: “Persephone Priscilla Zegarelli Huczko.”

“It’s so we can call her by her full name when she misbehaves,” said senior Huczko, 17.

The Panther marching band this week will appear in the nationally televised holiday parade for the first time since 2009.

Drum major Lane Kline was a sophomore when he found out in 2018 he would be in the parade. The 19 months since have been filled with a lot of practice and fundraising, and the full weight of the event hasn’t sunk in just yet.

“I think, once we get to Herald Square and it’s sort of ‘the moment we’ve all been waiting for,’ I think that’s when it’ll really hit me,” said Kline, a senior.

For Zegarelli and Huczko, the moment will hit much more quickly, as they push the baby grand piano down the full parade route.

“We’d both been band managers in prior years, so this was kind of an extension of what we’ve done,” Huczko said. “Although we didn’t know exactly what we were signing up for.”

“We’re small but mighty,” Zegarelli said. “We’ve sort of been practicing all season (at the halftime shows), and a lot of times we have to bring the piano down to the (high school) field, so that’s been practice as well.”

Walking behind the pair will be fellow honor guard member Jordan Snow, 18, who is playing the role of Ludwig van Beethoven. The band will perform Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven” in Herald Square.

“Getting into character is something that’s new for me,” Snow said.

The band departs Monday for New York City, with a full itinerary of rehearsals, tours, a Broadway show and more.

“I just want to explore the city,” said senior Marshall Mao, 17. “Just the idea of being in one of the biggest cities in the world is really cool.”

Despite it being her first time in the Macy’s parade, senior Courtney Sheridan, 18, said she is more excited than nervous.

“I’ve done other trips with the band,” she said. “Once we get into lining up for the parade, that really gets you going. And the crowd energy makes a big difference. I’m kind of getting chills thinking about it.”

Kline agreed that the band — one of 11 that will participate this year — is well prepared. Franklin Regional is slated to be the second band in the parade.

“We’ve practiced enough that we know what we’re doing and it’ll come easily and naturally,” Kline said.

The parade will be broadcast from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 28 on NBC.