CYPRESS, Texas – As the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marches through Manhattan, two Houston-area high school students will be part of the spectacle, performing for millions of viewers nationwide.
Hannah Bockhahn, a senior at Cy-Fair High School, and Lance Jehlik, a junior at Cypress Woods High School, have earned coveted spots in the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, an elite ensemble featuring the nation’s most talented young performers.
Bockhahn, now in her fourth year with the color guard, will be one of just 40 members selected from across the country. Her journey began unexpectedly when she joined for what she assumed would be an easy P.E. credit. “It definitely wasn’t,” she said, “But after my first season, I realized that it was something fun that I’d like to continue.”
For Jehlik, a trombonist, the path began with a childhood fascination with music. “I’ve always enjoyed listening to music in the car and I could always pick out the beat,” he explained. He was drawn to the trombone for its distinctiveness, noting, “It’s a very unique instrument because of the slide, and it’s very fun to play.”
Both students were inspired to audition after friends and neighbors participated in last year’s parade. The selection process was highly competitive, drawing applicants from the entire nation. “It’s the whole nation. It could be anyone,” Jehlik recalled thinking after submitting his video audition. “I was really happy when I got the text back that I made it.”
Upon arriving in New York, the students face a demanding schedule of rehearsals and sightseeing before the main event. Jehlik and the nearly 100 other musicians in the band will perform several numbers, including “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman.
For Bockhahn, who has never visited New York City, the experience feels surreal. “I don’t think it’ll feel real until I look out of the plane window and see the whole city,” she said. Jehlik, who has only visited in the summer, is looking forward to the challenge of performing in the cold for the first time.
The parade marks a significant milestone for both students. Bockhahn plans to study crime scene investigation in college but hopes to continue with color guard. She credits her success to her coach, Kelsey Hernandez, stating, “Without her help and her creating this good of a program, I wouldn’t have had this great opportunity.”
Jehlik intends to continue playing in college and beyond. He feels a sense of duty representing his hometown on a national stage. “It’s such an honor, because I know kids now, they’re looking up to me,” he said. “I want to represent them well… I hope that me doing this makes you realize that you can do it too. If you work for it, you can do it.”
