Tigers march on Big Apple

Editor’s note: The Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band earned as the coveted spot as the Santa Band in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, which is the last band to perform before Santa Claus finishes the show. The Marching Tiger Band performed a jazz rendition of Les King’s “The Nutcracker Suite.” You can read more about their journey to New York City below. Great job, Marching Tigers! You represented Fishers and all of Hamilton County well.

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By MARISSA MULJAT
ThisIsFishers.com

Thousands of high school bands across the country applied to perform in the 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and just six were selected for the coveted iconic tradition.

One of the chosen bands is the City of Fishers’ very own: Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band.

Chad Kohler, director of athletic bands at Fishers High School, said he felt incredibly honored and excited about the opportunity to showcase the band to entire nation – and the world.

“It’s the biggest parade on the face of this planet,” Kohler said. “Everybody sees it; it’s the family experience. I just can’t wait to be down there and see the looks on all the students faces.”

The 260-member band, along with 30 chaperones and several Marching Tiger alumni took six coach buses to New York City. The group left on Sunday, Nov. 19 and returned on Friday, Nov. 24. Totaling the number of students, parents, friends, family, chaperones, and others who traveled to watch the band added up to 460 people.

The music the band performed is based on “The Nutcracker Suite” by Les King.

To apply for the parade, Kohler explained that he was required to upload a band biography, director biography and a video of the previous year’s performance. They also were prompted to indicate why they’d like to participate and provide letters of recommendation.

Because so many bands apply each year, Kohler was unsure of his band’s chance of being chosen but remained hopeful – and in April of last year, his hopes were met in the best way possible.

“When I got the call, it was from Wesley Whatley, who is the creative producer of the Macy’s Parade,” Kohler said. “His exact quote was, ‘why haven’t you been in this parade before?’”

This phone conversation left Kohler with an overwhelming sense of joy and pride for the hard work his band had been accomplishing. Soon after, a mandatory band meeting was called in order to share the good news.

“We set out all the chairs and then we talked, and then the students started looking around wondering what’s going on because they saw some news cameras,” Kohler said.

Whatley traveled from New York to Fishers High School to share the incredible news with the students. When the time came for him to share the news, the room erupted with joy, excitement, and confetti.

Having accomplished making it to the Bands of America Grand National Championships this year and last, and now heading to the biggest parade in the country, Kohler says the band is thriving through musical excellence and a supportive community.

“It’s about setting goals and achieving goals and realizing those goals at the end of the season, and that it’s not always about the placement,” Kohler said. “It’s not always about the trophy or the hardware that you get, but it’s about the memories that you make. It’s also about the camaraderie.”

While this was the Marching Tigers’ first time in the parade, it was not the first time a high school from the Greater Indianapolis area marched on Thanksgiving Day in the Big Apple.

Last year, the Carmel High School Marching Band was in the parade, and the year before, the Sound of Brownsburg Marching Band.

Kohler said he could not be any prouder of his students and the work they’ve accomplished.

“These kids work tirelessly, day in and day out 20 hours a week, pouring their heart and soul into not just music, but a family that’s dedicated to helping each other,” Kohler said.

Learn more about the Marching Tiger Band at fishersband.org or on the @fishersband Instagram page.