BUTTE - Fifteen-year-old Derek Bane-Parsons of Butte High School has admired the marching bands at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since he was just a child.
“I told myself, I said, ‘one day I’m going to be in it.’ And I didn’t expect it to come quite this soon, but better early than never,” said Bane-Parsons.
Derek was one of 200 young musicians selected for the Macy's Great American Marching Band to perform in New York City on Thanksgiving Day.
“I was thrilled to even have the chance to march in the parade, I’ve always since I was a little kid been fascinated by the marching band,” said Bane-Parsons.
With support from his band teacher Jean Perusich, Derek will be playing the Mellophone on the three mile parade in front of millions of viewers. Derek says he can handle it.
“I’ll probably be so high on adrenaline at that point in time it’s not going to make much of a difference because I’ll be so excited,” said Bane-Parsons.
“I’m not nervous per se because I’ve been performing for so long, but I’m definitely on an adrenaline rush anytime I think of it,” said Bane-Parsons.
Derek will head out to New York City a week before the parade to rehearse with the band before the parade on Nov. 28th.
