The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

IN PREPARATION for one of their biggest performances yet, the Bahamas All-Star Marching Band is hosting the “Road To Macy’s Concert” – a unique event that will fund the musical group’s trip to New York in November.  

The concert will take place on June 29 at the National Centre For The Performing Arts beginning at 6pm. The show will feature performances by the band’s Flaggettes dancers, the drumline and featured guest artist Terneille Burrows, popularly known as ‘TaDa’.  

Travelling oversees to showcase their skills is nothing new for the band members, however, the Bahamas All-Stars said to performing during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York is one of their most exciting opportunities to date.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of the largest parades in the United States and kicks off the holiday season every year.

More than 3.5 million people view the parade live along the route, and more than 50 million viewers tune in to the television broadcast. Spectators watch in awe as 10,000 participants — including the best marching bands, performance groups, giant helium balloons, breathtaking floats and the one-and-only Santa Claus — pass by.

Each year, top marching bands of all varieties from across the US are invited to represent their states in the annual parade.

For the 88th edition of the parade this year, Macy’s Great American Marching Band returns to the route with more than 250 participants representing all 50 states.

Band directors are invited to submit an application along with a DVD of a field marching performance to the Macy’s Band Selection Committee. Applicants are thoroughly reviewed and decisions are made by early May, approximately 18 months in advance of the invited bands’ appearance.

Yonell Justilien, founder of the Bahamas All-Stars told Tribune Entertainment that the group’s resumé was sent out and received a favourable response from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade committee.  

“The Bahamas All-Stars was selected as one of 10 bands from among 175 to be featured during the parade,” he said.

“This parade is considered the Super Bowl of parades in the United States, attracting more than five million in attendance and over 50 million TV viewers worldwide, broadcast by NBC. It will give the Bahamas prime time advertisement. It is a parade that most, if not all, bands aspire to be a part of.”

The band leaves the Bahamas on November 25 and will perform during the parade on November 27.

During the “Road To Macy’s Concert”, the band will give audience members a taste of what they will present during the actual Thanksgiving Day Parade. The annual fundraising event will also serve the purpose of showing the versatility of band members.

“The band practices up to eight hours weekly in preparation for the performance. The event will be a unique musical Bahamian experience full of variety. The band will be performing music of different genres, which includes Bahamian, American pop and more,” Mr Justilien said.

The Bahamas All-Star Marching band recently performed at the inaugural IAAF World Relays and travelled to Washington, DC to participate in the Howard University homecoming event, where they captured first place in the ‘Battle of the Bands’.

Additionally, The ‘Battle 4 Atlantis’ NCAA Basketball Tournament 2013 and CARIFTA Games 2013 are some of the band’s most notable performances.

The Bahamas All-Star Marching Band was started with the intention to provide young people from diverse communities an opportunity to pursue personal development through the performing arts. The band also seeks to improve the musical abilities of students and assist those with an interest in pursuing music professionally with tertiary educational opportunities.

The Bahamas All-Stars have been actively training and mentoring talented young people in the performing arts for the past three years. There are presently 44 members of the band enrolled at various universities and colleges on scholarships in the US and many more at the College of the Bahamas.

The Bahamas All-Stars is living out its objectives by empowering young people through the arts.

“Our vision is to unlock the full artistic potential of our young people that will empower them to become productive citizens,” said Mr Justilien.

Other objectives of the programme include: improving self-esteem and self-confidence; promoting academic excellence; fostering a spirit of co-operation among youth; exposing young people to their cultural heritage, and creating a general awareness of performing arts as it relates to academic performance and social development.