While most of us were sleeping late and relaxing on our Thanksgiving Day off, junior Catherine Marino was up at 2 a.m. ready to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Catherine and other student musicians from all over the country were given the music opportunity of a lifetime: to be part of the beloved Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and perform live on national television.

Catherine began playing the alto saxophone in fourth grade and has been a great player ever since. After spending her time playing in the West Essex Symphonic Winds Band, Jazz Band and Marching Band, Band Director Anthony Fabrizio recommended that Catherine look into the Macy’s Great American Marching Band.

“I didn’t know anything about it and then Mr. Fabrizio just brought it up one day,” Catherine said.

Catherine filled out an application and sent in a video of her playing in March. She received the exciting news that she was offered a spot in April.

When rehearsals began, they were a no funny business ordeal. Catherine and her bandmates were told fooling around was prohibited, and the students got straight to business, learning new music and formations.

The night before the parade, Catherine and the other band members all slept at a hotel, and they got on a bus the next morning at 2:40 a.m. They were at the  parade rehearsing by 4 a.m.

“We were not as tired as we thought we would be because we were so excited,” Catherine said.

When the parade began, Catherine and her band mates waited at the start for nearly three hours until they performed at the end of the parade where they played their hearts out.

Despite the hardships of rehearsals and preparation, Catherine said that her time in the Macy’s Great American Marching Band was truly unforgettable.

“I loved it and would love to do it again,” Catherine said. “It is a once in a lifetime thing.”