Oklahoma teacher marching in Macy's Thanksgiving Parade celebrating US band directors

Jana Hayes, The Oklahoman
·2 min read

This year's iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature one small Oklahoma city's band director.

Shelby Lam has been the head band director of Lindsay Public Schools for five years, according to a news release. Lam is believed to be the only Oklahoma-based music educator who has been selected to perform with the Band Directors Marching Band, which will feature more than 400 band directors from across the country, in the New York City parade.

“I am very excited to not only represent Lindsay but the state of Oklahoma," said Lam, a 2011 graduate of Marlow High School and 2015 graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Shelby Lam, head band director for Lindsay Public Schools, will be marching in the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as part of the Band Directors Marching Band.
Shelby Lam, head band director for Lindsay Public Schools, will be marching in the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as part of the Band Directors Marching Band.

What is the Band Directors Marching Band?

The Band Directors Marching Band is part of the Saluting America's Band Directors project and will march together in NYC under the theme "America’s band directors: We teach music. We teach life.”

The band's inaugural performance was during the 2022 Rose Parade. The Macy's parade will be Lam's first time performing as a member of the band, which is directed by Jon Waters.

During the parade, Lam will play the piccolo, and the band will perform "Seventy-Six Trombones," "The Thunderer" and "The Stars and Stripes Forever" along the 2.5-mile route.

Along with performing in the 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the marching band will perform “Amazing Grace," "Taps" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" on Nov. 20 during a wreath ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City.

Who is in the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?

Performers participate in the 96th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
Performers participate in the 96th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

This year's parade also will consist of 25 balloons, 31 floats, 29 clown crews, 11 marching bands, 18 performers and seven performance groups.

Performers include Cher, Pentatonix, Jon Batiste, Brandy, Chicago and the casts of several Broadway shows, such as "Shucked," "& Juliet" and "Back to the Future: The Musical." The iconic Radio City Rockettes also will perform with the parade.

How to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

You can watch the parade on NBC or its Peacock streaming service starting at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 23 until noon. It's the first time the parade will begin a half-hour earlier than the traditional 9 a.m. start time.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to feature Oklahoma band director