First-Ever Show Choir Performs in Philly Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade has never featured a show choir – until this year. So when Todd Marcocci contacted Pendleton Heights HS (IN) Choir Director Erin Archer with the opportunity, it was too important to pass up. Pendleton Heights delivered a magical performance on national television, proving that show choirs deserve a lasting place in the lineup.
Preparation for parade day began months in advance, beginning at the choir’s July summer camp. “We learned the vocals and most of the choreography for our feature number,” said Director Erin Archer.
“In September, we started up weekly rehearsals, prepping for the parade and beginning to learn the finale vocals. Then, in October, we learned the finale choreography. The week of the parade, we practiced every day and in costume to make sure we were ready for the big day!”
The trip started with an early morning bus departure from Pendleton, Indiana. Once in Philly, the choir took a guided tour of the city’s historical sites and landmarks, including the Liberty Bell.
That afternoon, the group made their way to the Art Museum area for parade rehearsal. They spent a couple of hours working on their three different performance spots in the parade. The choir ran each portion several times to make certain camera angles were set and that timing was perfect.
“My students were in awe of the entire experience,” Archer shared. “They obviously don’t typically perform outside, let alone in a parade. Then, to perform in a street in a space much bigger than they are used to took an extreme amount of focus and dedication. They were so excited when we actually got to the location and rehearsed in front of the cameras.”
The travelers enjoyed dinner that night at a local Asian fusion restaurant, complete with karaoke. They all made it to bed early in preparation for the morning breakfast call and parade day.
After a hearty breakfast shared with many other performing units, the singers made their way downtown before sunrise to rehearse the full closing production number. Dancers, color guard members and the choir went through the performance several times to reinforce the timing of all the units. Once complete, the group made their way back to the warmth of the bus to prepare for the opening number.
TV personality Carson Cresley interviewed Director Erin Archer and assistant Emma Hardin before the group sang “Carol of the Bells” to kick off the pre-parade. About an hour later, the group performed their version of “I 2 I” from A Goofy Movie.
“You just rocked it out on national television,” Archer cheered as she entered the bus after the performance. The group received immediate text messages from friends and family at home about their TV performance.
For Archer, it was truly a special experience as a director. “I had never before seen a show choir in a nationally televised Thanksgiving Day parade, so it made me extremely proud to be the first choir to open that door for others! The pride I had for my students and the joy I felt that day were so immense! They were extremely professional and performed their hearts out. Proud is an understatement.”
Another 90 minutes later, the parade was approaching the grand finale. Once again, the Pendleton Heights HS performers took center stage with their energetic interpretation of “DJ Play A Christmas Song” by Cher. They were also featured on the Rocky Steps to the Art Museum as they framed Santa Claus.
A standout moment for Archer was “watching my students perform live with industry professionals and blending in so well! You couldn’t differentiate between the professionals and the high schoolers.”
The group made their way back to the hotel for a Philly Cheesesteak lunch and to warm up before dinner. They danced and sang and enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving dinner aboard a dinner cruise. The next morning, they were off to Indiana after a rewarding trip to Pennsylvania.
Archer shared how working with Music Travel Consultants impacted the group’s trip experience. “I have worked with MTC for my entire 13-year career in teaching, and, like always, working with MTC was an incredible experience,” she said.
“They had a schedule organized for us down to the minute and made sure we knew exactly where to go for every rehearsal. They made sure our students were well taken care of, fed, and planned amazing activities for them to do in between the scheduled rehearsals and performances.
I never have to worry or stress with MTC, I know they have it all handled!”
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