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Sikeston’s Lancaster details his experience in the Macy’s parade
By Gina Williams
Standard Democrat
SIKESTON — Sikeston High School senior Sam Lancaster spent Thanksgiving in New York City, marching in the Macy’s Great American Marching Band during the 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Lancaster, the son of Jay and Camille Lancaster, was among a group of selected students from across the country who comprised this year’s Macy’s Great American Marching Band.
While Lancaster’s parents were out on the streets of New York City watching their son march in the parade, many residents of the Sikeston community gathered around the television on Thanksgiving to watch the parade as well.
Lancaster and his family have returned home from the Big Apple and are reflecting on their experience.
Lancaster described his time in New York as both exciting and challenging.
“Everyday consisted of some hard core drilling of just back and forth, back and forth, doing our performance,” Lancaster said. “We wasted no time, and it was draining, but we all knew we had a mission to do, so we had our goals.”
According to Lancaster, this was not the first time a student from Sikeston High School marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.
Lancaster said the first student to be in the Macy’s parade was in 2008, and two Sikeston students were in it in 2013.
Lancaster said he saw a framed copy of the Standard Democrat featuring the previous two students from 10 years ago in the office of his band director, Darren Steelman.
Lancaster said he wanted to do something fun and unique his senior year, so he went to Steelman for information on how to try out for the Macy’s parade.
“He told me what website to go to and to get prepared,” Lancaster said.
After learning more about the opportunity, Lancaster auditioned virtually in January.
“I was given a solo for solos and ensembles for the second semester, and so I perfected my solo and used it to audition virtually.”
Lancaster found out in March, two months after auditioning, that he had made it.
According to Lancaster, marching in the parade was his favorite part, and he learned a lot from the experience, which he felt benefited him.
Lancaster said his SHS band teacher Kim Whitehead accompanied him on the trip as a chaperone to do some sightseeing before rehearsals began, and that his family flew to New York City the day before to be present in person on Thanksgiving.
Lancaster arrived in New York City on Saturday, Nov. 18 and was fitted for his uniform, and on Sunday, Nov. 19 he spent the day sightseeing.
Lancaster said he had his first rehearsal Monday, Nov. 20 when they practiced for eight hours.
Lancaster had his next rehearsals from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Nov. 21 and Wednesday, Nov. 22 and went to bed early Wednesday evening in order to be ready to practice at 3:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
“I would say before the parade, we spent a total of 16 to 17 hours of rehearsal, and then the parade lasted about two hours,” Lancaster said.
Lancaster described the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade as “very different” from marching in the Sikeston Cotton Carnival parade.
“At the Macy’s parade, we had a couple of breaks where we could pose to take a picture and interact with the crowd, which we couldn’t do in the Cotton Carnival Parade,” Lancaster said.
Camille Lancaster explained that because the Macy’s parade is televised, there are sections of the parade where the parade stops, allowing them to interact with the crowd.
“I really had a great time in the march; I had a blast just walking through the New York streets,” Lancaster said.
Later that night, after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, all of the MGAMB students’ families attended a Thanksgiving dinner at the hotel where all of the students were staying.
Lancaster said another aspect of his experience which he enjoyed was working with several talented music educators from across the country.
Lancaster’s parents said they are extremely proud of their son and enjoyed being in New York City to see him march in the parade.
“I think overall it was a trip of a lifetime,” Camille Lancaster said. “Last year, Sam tried out because he wanted to do something fun and different for his senior year, and when he made it, we were thrilled.”
According to Camille Lancaster, when students make it to New York, if they are seen as not adequately equipped, they will be pulled out and not allowed to march.
“We were just really proud of him for also making it all the way through,” she said about her son.
Jay Lancaster agreed.
“Absolutely, and to be there to watch the parade in person alone was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but to also do so and to watch one of your children marching down the streets of New York performing in it was just such an amazing thing to experience as a parent.”
According to Sam Lancaster, there is an alumni band for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade every 10 years, which will be in three years, which also happens to be the parade’s 100th anniversary.
Lancaster said he hasn’t decided on anything yet but possibly would like to try out for the alumni band as well.