Besides the Turkey and the Stuffing, another Thanksgiving Staple is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. This year a Nixa Junior was marching in the Big Apple.

nats band playing

AS THE NIXA HIGH SCHOOL BAND PRACTICES MUSIC FOR ITS UPCOMING CHRISTMAS CONCERT, ONE OF ITS MEMBERS HAS ALSO BEEN PRACTICING FOR AN EVEN BIGGER STAGE THAN THE NIXA AUDITORIUM .... NATIONAL TELEVISION.

JUNIOR KRISTEN BENNETT WILL PLAY FRENCH HORN IN THE MACY'S GREAT AMERICAN MARCHING BAND.

"i've always watched it since I was little, and I always loved to see marching bands, and how cool it would be if I was in it, so it's kind of surreal it's going to be me."

SHE'S ONE OF FEWER THAN 200 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICIANS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO MADE THE BAND.
IT WAS THANKS TO HER MOM, THAT SHE EVEN APPLIED TO BE IN THE PARADE.

"my mom actually was just online one day, and she came across the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade website, and she saw the Great American Marching Band needed more participants from Missouri, so she applied for me."

NIXA BAND DIRECTOR CRAIG FINGER SAYS IT'S NOT OFTEN MUSICIANS LIKE KRISTEN COME ALONG.

"she's probably the best musician we've had in Nixa."

"she's just not the average high school musician, she plays so much. I think she puts in enough time for two high school careers."

BEING A PRINCIPLE HORNIST IN THE YOUTH SYMPHONY IN SPRINGFIELD, FIRST CHAIR OF NIXA'S BAND, AND HAVING WON VARIOUS AWARDS, KRISTEN'S MUSICAL RESUME SPOKE FOR ITSELF AND EARNED HER SPOT IN THE BAND.

"I think it will be an adventure."

KRISTEN SAYS THE GREAT AMERICAN MARCHING BAND IS CLOSE TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE-UP.
THEY PLAYED "76 TROMBONES IN THE BIG PARADE" AND "AMERICANS ON PARADE."

A STUDENT FROM BRANSON AND CLEVER WERE ALSO IN THE BAND WITH BENNETT.