West Florence student to march in Macy's Thanksgiving parade

West Florence High School Senior Elizabeth Braswell laughs on stage while waiting to perform with the rest of the band during the Veterans Day Celebrations at West Florence High School. Braswell, who has been playing the French Horn for four years will be traveling to New York City to perform with the Macy’s Great American Band in the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. “Music just speaks to you,” Braswell said of the French Horn. “It’s just a really good experience and I am so glad I have the opportunity to play it, and go to the parade, and everywhere else I will be going.”

By: Traci Bridges | SCNow
Published: November 11, 2009

A member of the West Florence High School Marching Knights will be among high school band all-stars from across the country marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City.

Elizabeth Braswell, a West Florence senior who plays French horn in the band, will march in the traditional parade as part of the Macy’s Great American Band, a select 250-member ensemble made up of high school students from all 50 States and Washington, D.C.

“I’ve always watched the parade on TV, but I never thought I’d be playing in it,” Braswell said. “I still don’t think it’s hit me yet. It’s unbelievable.”

Braswell joined her middle school band as a clarinet player. But as she was preparing to enter high school, West Florence’s band director at the time visited her middle school band class and persuaded her to change instruments.

“They had two French horn players who were seniors so they were going to lose them and not have anyone on the French horn,” Braswell said. “He asked if anyone would be interested in changing to the French horn, and I volunteered. I learned the French horn over that summer and then switched over to it in band in my ninth-grade year.”

Last January, Braswell decided to try out for the All-State Band and made third chair, meaning the judges deemed her the third best high school band French horn player in the state. Much to her surprise, Braswell’s All-State audition performance led to a big invitation.

“My band director received this letter in the mail and passed it along to me, and I couldn’t believe it when I saw what it was,” Braswell said. “It was basically an invitation asking me to audition to play in the Macy’s parade.”

Braswell performed Mozart’s Concerto No. 3 for her audition. A few weeks later, she received a formal invitation to be a part of the Great American Band, along with a packet of information, the trip itinerary, the parade route and the music she would be performing.

“We were excited enough when she made All-State, because a school this size doesn’t always have someone make All-State,” West Florence Band Director Steve Rummage said. “As far as I know, she is the only West Florence student to ever be asked to play in the parade. So this is a really big deal. We’re very proud of her.”

Braswell will leave for New York Nov. 21. On the day of the parade, she will be up at 2 a.m. to run through a full dress parade dress rehearsal with the rest of the band.

“We do the whole parade route, which is about five miles, so we’ll really do it twice that day,” Braswell said. “I’m nervous about it, but I’m really, really excited. It’s like a dream come true. I can’t wait.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
The 83rd Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will begin at 9 a.m. on Nov. 26 at 77th Street and Central Park West. Check local listings for television coverage.