GREENDALE -- In the midst of the 90th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, you'll find the Greendale High School Marching Band.
Around 200 bands applied to be part of the parade and only 12 were chosen. Greendale is one of seven high school bands asked to march this year.
"I still can't believe it," said Travis Bradford, Saxophone.
"I have no words," explained Jessica Spottek, Trumpet.
The Greendale Marching Band is used to the spotlight. They've won state the last 12 years, but they've never had an audience of 50 million plus.
"There's nerves with everything and so I'm just going to go out there and have a good time," Bradford said.
The 270 students and their band director know the pressure is on.
"You get one shot at it. It's not like you get multiple football games or multiple competitions. You just get one chance to do it for the world," said Tom Reifenberg, Band Director.
The Creative Director of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade said one of the reasons they chose the Greendale Marching Band is their artistic statement.
"They do beautiful storytelling on the field each fall and it's beyond just entertainment," explained Wesley Whatley, Creative Director of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The band is in the second half of the parade. When they hit the star, they'll perform a Mary Poppins medley.
"It's just blowing my mind that we're going on in three days and I just love every second of it," Spottek said.
More than 1,000 people from the Greendale community are traveling to New York to cheer on the band. Most of them will enjoy a Thanksgiving feast during a dinner cruise on the Hudson River.
The public is invited to the band's final dress rehearsal Saturday at noon at the football stadium.
Security will be extra tight at this year's parade. ISIS has apparently told supporters the parade is an excellent target for an attack. The New York Police Department said there is no credible threat to the 3.5 million people who are expected to line the two-mile parade route Thursday.
You can watch for the Greendale High School Marching Band in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 24 on TODAY'S TMJ4.
