CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - More than 350 University of Illinois students got their 2015 holiday plans disrupted today - in the best possible way. The Marching Illini learned the band is one of 10 chosen to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Nov. 26, 2015, beating out more than 175 applicants from around the country. The parade, a tradition since 1924, now draws more than 3.5 million live spectators and an estimated 50 million TV viewers.
Barry Houser, the director of the Marching Illini and Illinois athletic bands, made the announcement this morning after keeping the selection under wraps for more than a month.
"The nation's premier college marching band is honored to represent the university, the state of Illinois and the Big Ten Conference," Houser said. "The tradition and pageantry of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade coincides with our own program's history as the first college (band) program in the country. We hope to share the tradition, loyalty, pride and excellence that is associated with Illinois and Macy's with the entire country in 2015."
Illinois will be the only Big Ten school marching in the parade next year, although Purdue University participated in the 2010 parade. "Illinois has the claim to many 'firsts' in the band world," Houser said, "but in this one area, we will be a close second."
In a statement from Macy's, Wesley Whatley, the creative director for the parade, said the selection committee looks for bands that have the kind of stage presence that can captivate a national audience.
"Few band programs offer the history, size and scope of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign," Whatley said. "Macy's band selection committee was blown away by the band's ability to engage the crowd, entertain and put on a high-energy show."
Chancellor Phyllis Wise said the band embodies the spirit and personality of the U. of I. "They are students from all walks of life, represent majors from engineering to philosophy and come from all corners of our state and from across the country," she said. "We are proud and pleased to have them represent us in this national celebration."
Houser now has 18 months to raise funds and plan the band's Macy's parade debut. He can't finalize the band's repertoire until he learns whether the Illini will march near the head of the parade or farther back, closer to the traditional final float bearing Santa. However, each of the 10 bands stops in Herald Square to perform a special routine.