Heading to the Parade? Watch for the 'Watchung Hills Three'

Say “Thanksgiving” to folks in the metropolitan area, and they immediately think: “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.” Indeed, this fabulous production is probably known nationwide for its flamboyant display of giant balloons, fantastic floats, exuberant marchers and enthusiastic bandsmen.

Even more exciting than viewing the annual holiday extravaganza is being in it. Three Watchung Hills Regional High School juniors will have that privilege this year. They are: Jake Bahr of Watchung, trombonist, Juliana Engler and Marissa Levin, both of Warren, who will all be part of “The Macy Great American Marching Band.”

While candidates from all over the United States auditioned for a position in the event by sending in tapes of their performance, Jake Bahr bypassed the usual application procedure by being invited to participate in the big parade by a representative of Macy’s who viewed his performance in last year’s All State Orchestra performance.

Bahr has been an active bandsman since junior high days and has participated in numerous by-audition-only musical honors groups. He’s played first trombone in the Region II Orchestra, has taken part in the All State Symphonic Band, has been first chair in the New Jersey Youth Symphony. Most recently, he performed with the All State Orchestra during the teachers convention held in November in Atlantic City. Next spring he will participate in the National High School Honors Orchestra, a singular honor.

The imposing six-footer got a head start on the parade by learning Bisco’s “Inferno” and a specially commissioned piece before the parade band’s joint rehearsal.

When he’s not playing the trombone, Bahr is a serious student with an imposing academic load—AP’s in physics, literature and US History, Latin, philosophy, digital electronics and music (wind ensemble).

“It will be an awesome experience,” says the six-footer, who stands above the crowd in more ways than one.

Also appearing in the “Great Macy American Marching Band” are two well-known figures, Marissa Levin and Juliana Engler—well known because they are co-captains of the Watchung Hills Color Guard that performs at every Hills football competition. The duo will be among 50 such performers (from all over the United States) in the parade.

Levin learned about the requirements for the highly competitive event from an online source. She and Engler each devised individual six-minute routines which they then video-taped and submitted to parade officials. Both of their routines made the cut and that’s when the honor of being accepted, and the glamour of being a part of the world’s best-known parade, was paired with some hard work.

All three parade participants began their adventure on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

They will be housed in a hotel in Woodcliff Lake in quiet Bergen County, and bussed daily to rehearsal sites to learn and practice their various routines. Meanwhile, there is the more mundane aspect of parading—being fitted for uniforms, learning to apply make-up. “We had to buy our own make-up,” said Engler, who has already practiced applying the blue and brown cremes in abundance.

Their background as leaders of Watchung Hills’ Color Guard, they say, has equipped them for what is sure to be a demanding five-day learning experience. There will be 50 performers, two from every state, in their segment, and they are looking forward to meeting persons from other parts of the United States, as well as the opportunity to learn new techniques and routines they can bring back to Watchung Hills. Levin said the paraders will rehearse daily in Teaneck, and Engler added that their final rehearsal will take place at 2:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning in “the middle of Times Square.”

On the day of the parade, they will begin their march at 9:00 a.m. at 77th Street and Central Park West and head south to Herald Square, site of Macy’s, ending about noon. As with mail carriers, neither snow nor sleet, nor whatever the weather may bring—they’ll march joyfully on.

Local residents can join the parade at home on their TV sets, or brave the weather and take part, in person, in the World’s Biggest Parade. Either way, be on the lookout for the "Watchung Hills Three."