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Arizona band directors will march in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Five Peoria Unified band directors will march in the Band Director’s Marching Band, a group of band directors and music educators from across North America.

PEORIA, Ariz. — You may recognize a few faces in the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year – five Arizona band directors will be marching alongside 400 plus directors from across North America as part of the Band Directors Marching Band

This year’s parade will take to the streets of New York City on Nov. 23 and will feature five Peoria Unified band directors.

  • Lizeth Gil, band director at Canyon and Kachina Elementary Schools, Peoria High School Panther Pride Marching Band staff member

  • Bryan Malone, band director at Cheyenne and Cotton Boll Elementary Schools, Peoria High School Panther Pride Marching Band staff member

  • Jeffrey Malone, band director for Peoria High School Panther Pride Marching Band

  • Kate Menasco, band director from Centennial High School

  • Carmela Rubino, Peoria High School Panther Pride Marching Band staff member, choir director and music educator at Canyon Elementary School beginning in January 2024

The Band Directors Marching Band’s theme for the parade is “America’s band directors: We teach music. We teach life.” The performance will be directed by Jon Waters.

Menasco, who is the Centennial High School band director, a teacher and a Peoria High School graduate, shares similar sentiments to this year’s theme.

“I teach life, band is just my vehicle,” Menasco said in a press release. 

All five band directors also have a direct tie to Peoria High School, which is the oldest high school in the fifth largest school district in Arizona. Menasco and Gil are both graduates of Peoria High School. Bryan Malone, Jeffery Malone and Rubino are all Peoria High School marching band staff members. 

To catch the Band Directors Marching Band and all of the other performances at this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, tune in to NBC. 

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