Northern Arizona University’s Lumberjacks band marches in Macy’s parade

Talk about being in a New York state of mind!

Northern Arizona University’s Lumberjack Marching Band is making history in State 48 this week by becoming the first college marching band from Arizona to perform in the prestigious Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City!

We met the band director and a drum major while we were in the Big Apple. They have been practicing a lot, including performing in Central Park.

“It’s been really incredible,” says NAU junior Sebastian Cisneros-Ortega, who is part of the school’s drum majors and also a graduate of Paradise Valley High School.

The performance in Central Park is really just the opening act as the Lumberjacks prepare for their largest audience to date – millions in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“It’s absolutely wild,” says Sebastian. “I’m still processing the fact that we made it. It’s truly magical and a dream come true and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world.”

And it looks like Sebastian and his over 250 other bandmates are already getting good reviews.

“The crowd got even bigger and bigger and bigger, and we were all sitting there, like, Oh my God! They’re here to see us and what Arizona has to offer!”

It all started for NAU 18 months ago when they found out they would be demonstrating. The school posted a video on its YouTube page to highlight the moment students found out.

Band Director Stephen Meyer explains, “It’s about giving our students the (opportunity) that other bands around the country have and putting them on a national stage and recognizing their amazing hard work.”

Meyer has earned a spot in the prestigious parade once before, in 2009 as a high school band director in the Midwest.

Meyer says this moment is about helping his students reach higher levels on the parade route and in life, too.

“Hard work pays off,” says Meyer. “And really anything is possible!”

“Anything is possible if we work hard enough,” says Sebastian. “With our hard work, with our effort, with our dedication, we can accomplish these great things!”

NAU will perform three songs during the parade — and before that, take part in a special ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring none other than Wicked star Cynthia Erivo!