This Clovis school band will represent California at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2022

For the first time in more than 20 years, a Clovis school band has been chosen to perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The Bronco Band, from Clovis North Educational Center (Clovis North High School and Granite Ridge Intermediate School) will be a part of the floats, giant balloons and superstar performers at the 96th annual parade in 2022, according to organizers and the school district.

Clovis North band director David Lesser, who had known for more than a year that his marching band had been selected for the parade, finally got to reveal the surprise announcement during a virtual gathering with students Tuesday.

“It’s just so crazy, our school (was picked); we had no clue,” said Clovis North sophomore Savannah Whightman, who plays the flute and will be a senior when the band performs in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “It was really exciting to hear the huge news.”

The band was one of nine chosen out of more than 100 applicants.

The Broncos have built quite the resume over the years, winning the Western Band Association AA State Championship in 2010 and 2011, as well as finishing first in the 4A Championship in 2019, the same year it finished fourth in the open division.

“Clovis North delivers an exciting sound and ambitious creative vision each fall season, consistently winning the state title and often placing higher than bands double their size,” said Wesley Whatley, the creative producer for the parade.

“We admire the band’s tenacity and incredible accomplishments.”

The band will spend the next 18 months planning and fundraising for the trip. And with as many as 175 members potentially making the trip, Clovis North is projecting a total fundraising amount between $450,000-$500,000.

To that end, Macy’s already donated $10,000 to the cause.

“It’s been a career goal of mine and I think something that any music teacher who teaches high school band wants to eventually get a chance to do,” Lesser said. “I’ve been watching the parade since I was a kid. ... So to get to be a part of it, I kind of get choked up a little bit and just can’t wait for that experience.”

While this will be the band’s first appearance at the parade, it’s not the first time Clovis has been represented at the televised event. The Clovis West High School Band played the parade three times, in 1989, 1995 and 2000.

This story was originally published April 6, 2021 at 5:30 PM.