Elaine Ort, band director for Western Wayne High School, will join band directors from across the country to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 23.
The Saluting America’s Band Directors™ project has assembled over 400 band directors confirmed to march in the Band Directors Marching Band’s Macy’s appearance. This group was first seen performing together in the Rose Parade in January of 2022. This time the organization has planned an exciting five-day New York City experience for the Band Directors Marching Band culminating with a performance in the world-famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®. The trip will run from Sunday, November 19, through Thursday, November 23. The Band Directors will have a variety of experiences in New York City leading up to the parade. They will be a part of the first division of the parade and are set to perform at the famous Macy’s star on the live NBC television broadcast at about 8:30 a.m. on parade day.
“I am so incredibly excited for this experience, and so grateful to have had such wonderful colleagues and friends who have helped prepare me for this adventure,” Ort said. “ I hope that I will make all of you proud in New York City. Go Wildcats, and Go Band!”
Elaine Ort has devoted much of her life to the study and performance of music. A native of New England and graduate of Marywood University, Elaine is a member of the Scranton Brass Orchestra, the Providence Brass, the Schützengiggles Oompah Band, the Marywood University Wind Symphony, and performs often in musical pit orchestras throughout the region. As an educator, Elaine serves as the director of instrumental activities in the Western Wayne School District since 2014. At Western Wayne, her teaching responsibilities include sixth grade brass instruction, eighth grade band instruction, and the Pride of Western Wayne, the Wildcat High School Band. Under her direction and guidance the school continues to invest heavily in its music program, and was recently named a KHS America Academic Alliance Platinum school for its investment in instrumental education. It is the only school in Pennsylvania, and one of only 39 in the United States to have received that honor.
Complete details on the project are available on the Saluting America’s Band Directors website, https://banddirectorsalute.org/2023-macys-parade%C2%AE
