CCS’s Noggle joins Macy’s Thanksgiving band
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Concord Christian School junior Kara Lynn Noggle, right, is pictured with three of her fellow Macy’s Great American Marching Band members just after the group finished marching in the 96th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Thursday, Nov. 24, in New York City. - Photo submitted
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Macy’s Great American Marching Band sign, which Concord Crhstian School junior Kara Lynn Noggle marched behind as one of about 250 MGAMB members during the 96th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York Thursday, Nov. 24. - Photo submitted
While most Farragut residents spent Thanksgiving close to home, one special high school student spent the morning in the “Big Apple” surrounded by thousands, as she took part in the 96th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Kara Lynn Noggle, a junior at Concord Christian School, was one of about 250 high school students from across the country chosen to perform as a member of “Macy’s Great American Marching Band.”
Noggle, who also plays flute, is captain of CCS marching band’s color guard. She auditioned earlier this year to be considered for the Macy’s band.
As a flute player, “I was in the Regional All-East Band and I was contacted about auditioning,” she said, noting she was required to submit a three-to-five minute marching and solo piece to be considered.
“They contacted me two to three days later to tell me I made it.”
Preparation for ‘The Day’
All members received their music prior to meeting early Thanksgiving week, during which time the group practiced several times together before the big day.
“It was really interesting,” said Noggle, who noted she met other members from Tennessee, but none from Knox County. “I was used to around 38 in our band, then to have 250 was really a definite culture shock.
“Our first night of rehearsal, the sound was just really big,” she added.
Band members, who all stayed in the same hotel in New Jersey, were required to report to the lobby at 3 a.m. Thanksgiving morning to prepare and disembark for their destination.
Noggle estimated the Macy’s parade route was 2 to 3 miles long, and said while it was “cold” earlier in the week, on the day of the parade “it was almost hot.”
The group performed a medley of Christmas songs as it reached Herald Square.
“By the time it was over, my shins were really hurting, but it didn’t matter much because we had so much fun,” Noggle said. “It was worth it. I would do it again for sure. I get to try out again, and since I did it once I am allowed to return on its 100th anniversary, to take part as an alum.”
Family, seeing “Big Apple”
Accompanied by her mother, Jennifer, the younger Noggle said they had time for tourist activities in the “Big Apple.”
“We actually left a day early to do some touristy things,” she said. “We got to see ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ which I have always wanted to see, and we got to visit a huge flute store in New York,”
This latter experience was special to both Noggle and her mother, as Jennifer also is a flautist, and has encouraged her daughter’s love for the instrument.
“We also went to the top of the Rockefeller Center,” Noggle added. “We had a blast.”
