DHS band will perform in oldest Thanksgiving parade

Comes on heels of band’s highest finish at regional competition

The Destrehan High School band will perform a New Orleans medley as part of the nation’s oldest Thanksgiving parade in Philadelphia this Thursday.

Stacy Toal, director of the DHS band, said the performance comes on the heels of the band’s highest performance finish at a competition held at UL-Lafayette. DHS took fourth overall amongst every class of band with their performance “I am an American Soldier.”

“It’s been a snowball effect with the kids performing really well and reaching a high level in their ability to execute a show,” Toal said.

The students’ performance at the Lafayette competition was greeted with two standing ovations. The four-movement performance of “I Am an American Soldier” included a somewhat symphonic peace evoking the feelings that “make a man or woman leave their home to serve their country” and ended with a tasteful variation of taps and a finale called “heroes.”

“We had people crying, particularly older gentleman,” Toal said. “One that I talked to personally told me, ‘I’ve been there.’”

Those who have heard the DHS band performing at the Endymion and Ceasar parades will recognize the medley they plan to bring to the Philadelphia show.

To get to the Thanksgiving day performance, students loaded on to buses Tuesday afternoon for “18 to 20 hours” on the road, according to Toal. Toal said the students seem excited, even though the intense schedule will take them away from their homes for Thanksgiving.

“Many of them have family coming on the trip, but many of them are excited about sharing Thanksgiving with their band family and having the opportunity to perform in such a prestigious parade,” Toal said.

Following the parade, the students will take an extra trip to tour New York, and won’t be available to play in the semifinal playoff game between the Wildcats and the Tigers. Toal said, however, that members of the LSU marching band who were alums of the DHS band will perform Friday night.

“Their game happens to be on Thursday against Texas A&M, so they were able to come,” Toal said.

After the Philadelphia trip, Toal said the band will enter its symphonic season, which will give the band new opportunities to compete.

“We’re very versatile,” Toal said. “We’re successful because the kids have a great work ethic.”

Toal said those who cannot make the journey with the DHS band for Thanksgiving can watch the performance online at www.dig.abclocal.go.com/wpvi/html/parade2014/index.html.