MEBANE, N.C. (WGHP) — Eastern Alamance High School student Tristan Garrett loves being a part of his school’s marching band.
So much so, that when he learned about an opportunity to march and play his trumpet on a national stage with other band members from all across the nation, he decided to apply. He sent in an audition tape of him playing his trumpet and marching.
The judges saw Tristan’s talent both playing his instrument and marching. So they invited him to be a part of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band. He’ll be performing with more than 200 other high school students in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Tristan says he is very excited about the opportunity.
“I love marching band in general, so just another opportunity to go out and do more of it was just something that I like doing and just getting to play with a bunch of kids from around the country is also pretty cool,” he said.
Eastern Alamance Band Director Ben Crotts says this chance didn’t come without a lot of hard work.
“Tristan worked really hard for this opportunity,” said Crotts. “He put in so many, so many hours outside of practice, outside of the regular day preparing his audition, coming in on weekend time and working this up, and it’s really, really gratifying to see his hard work pay off for him.”
Tristan says he hasn’t been to New York in many years so he is excited about getting to do some sightseeing and everything else that will come with the experience.
“I’m looking forward to meeting a bunch of people from just different places here and why they like this experience so much,” he said. “And I already have a few people that I’m talking to that we’re going to meet up and just hang out in New York. It’s going to be a great time.”
It’s an experience he will remember for the rest of his life.
According to Crotts, “it’s incredibly exciting. And just to be able to perform with a band of that size and in an event of that magnitude is something that he’s going to remember for a lifetime for sure.”
And there is another first to add to his list. Tristan will be the first student from Eastern Alamance to ever perform in the Great American Marching Band.
He says he thinks it’s “really cool. I think it’s a great honor to be able to say that that was me. Possibly. So yeah, that’s really cool. “
Tristan says he plans to go to a college with a good marching band program so he can try out to be a part of it. He also wants to pursue a degree in music education.
