St. C. band students to perform in Macy’s Parade | News, Sports, Jobs

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St. Clairsville High School band students Casey Kadylak, left, and Rowan Flanagan prepare to head to New York to play in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 25. They are among more than 220 band members across the country selected to perform with the Great American Marching Band.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — You wake up on Thanksgiving morning, the turkey is in the oven and you turn on the TV for your annual viewing of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

This year, you will see students who have traveled all the way from the Ohio Valley to perform in the parade. In addition to three Union Local band members, Casey Kadylak and Rowan Flanagan, members of the St. Clairsville High School Band, will be among more than 220 band members from across the country that were selected to perform with the Macy’s Great American Marching Band.

Flanagan and Kadylak first had to send in an audition tape that demonstrated their playing and marching abilities.

Kadylak, a senior band member and one of two drum majors said, “I can’t wait to get to New York and start working with the band. Getting to perform with the Macy’s Band will be something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

This year, Kadylak performed a baritone solo in the “Red Devil” band’s competitive show “You’re Invited,” which earned the highest rating of Superior at the Ohio Music Education Association’s state marching band finals.

Flanagan, who is also a senior member of the band and captain of the color guard, which finished in first place and earned straight superior ratings at every competition and their highest score in school history, said, “I am very thankful for the opportunity to perform in the parade.

“I think it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Learning flag and rifle takes hours of practice, but the opportunities it unlocks and the places you get to travel and see make it so worth it! Twirling down the streets of New York City is going to be incredible,” she added.

When both students return from New York, they will have another parade to perform in with the St. Clairsville band as they travel to Disney and Universal Studios in Florida.

Flanagan and Kadylak join other St. Clairsville alumni band members who have marched with the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, including Leandra Reed, Joel Panas, Caleb McKeegan and Badyn Woodford. Both Flanagan and Kadylak hope to inspire their peers to take chances and reach their goals as they are.

The Union Local students who will participate this year are junior Brody Roman, senior Jessica McCormick and junior Carson Phillips.