ABERDEEN, S.D. – Every year, Aberdeen Central’s Makayla Torbert watches the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV with her family—but this year, she’ll have a first-hand view.
Torbert will travel to New York City to march in the 100th annual Macy’s Parade with the Great American Marching Band—and she’s one of only 185 student musicians selected from across the U.S. to do so.
For Torbert, it’s a dream-come-true opportunity.
“This was something I didn’t even think was possible,” said Torbert, a junior at CHS who plays the tenor saxophone in the Golden Eagles Marching Band.
Torbert first discovered the opportunity while watching last year’s parade on TV, when her mom pointed out that the band was made up of high school students. She did some digging and realized she had everything she needed to audition. She recorded her audition in late January, submitted it on Feb. 25, then had to wait a couple of months before hearing back.
“I found out on my birthday that I made it in,” Torbert said.
Now, she’ll travel to New York and spend Thanksgiving week rehearsing with the other members of the Great American Marching Band. What is she most excited for?
“Probably being able to be a tourist while I’m there,” she said.
Torbert will get to sight-see with the other band members, including taking in Broadway shows and visiting Times Square.
Her family will attend the parade as well, including her grandparents.
Torbert said it’s very special because her grandma has watched the parade on TV for the last 50 years.
“Now she actually gets to go see it in person and gets to watch me being in it in person,” she said.
Started in Band as a Freshman
Though Torbert has been a musician for several years—playing piano and also playing in the orchestra—she only started in band her freshman year.
As a freshman, she was a member of the color guard, which started out practicing separately from the marching band.
“The first time we went back to the back parking lot to practice together, I started spinning the flag, but then I heard the band playing,” she said. “There was something in me that was like, ‘I want to be a part of that.’”
The next year, Torbert switched to marching band—and it’s been the best choice for her.
“There are so many more opportunities that opened up just because I gave something new a try,” she said. “I absolutely love it.”
Following in Grandfather’s Footsteps
Torbert’s grandfather was a longtime band director in Jamestown who grew that community’s program substantially, but she said he passed away before her sophomore year of marching.
“He was supposed to be able to see me march, but he never did get to see me march with my instrument,” she said.
But now, she plans to follow in his career footsteps.
“I want to be a band director like my grandpa,” she said.
‘Don’t Let Anything Stop You’
As she prepares for her upcoming trip to New York, Torbert said she appreciates the support from teachers and the entire CHS community.
“As soon as word got around that I got accepted… everyone was just like, ‘congratulations,’ even people I never met,” she said. “People just keep asking me about it. It makes me feel so much happier to be able to go.”
She also encourages other students who have a goal they want to achieve to go for it.
“Really for any goal, if you put your mind to it, don’t let anything stop you,” she said. “… If you imagine yourself doing it, you can do it. Nothing is impossible unless you make it impossible.”
About the Aberdeen Public School District
The Aberdeen Public School District provides a comprehensive educational program to approximately 4,200 students in grades K-12, with a mission of empowering all students to succeed in a changing world. Our students receive the knowledge and skills necessary to reach their potential in a global community through high expectations of academic achievement; diverse educational opportunities; and community involvement in a safe, supportive environment. Learn more at aberdeen.k12.sd.us.