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Jonesboro's Majestic Marching Cardinals will represent Georgia and HBCU-style bands at Macy's Parade
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On Thursday morning, millions will tune in for a holiday tradition: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And a Georgia band will be among them: the Jonesboro High School Majestic Marching Cardinals. GPB's Allexa Ceballos has more.
On Thursday morning, millions will tune in for a holiday tradition: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Among the colorful floats and bands making their way down the streets of New York City is a first-timer — the Jonesboro High School Majestic Marching Cardinals.
The metro Atlanta band is the only one from Georgia, and just one of 10 bands performing in this year's parade. The weeklong journey to New York was preceded by months of preparation and community fundraising to send 115 band members on the trip up North.
The band will march for just over 2 miles while playing half a dozen songs, ranging from Christmas classics to Kendrick Lamar.
Band director Lynel Goodwin has every confidence that his kids will crush this opportunity.
“I can sit back and pretty much relax knowing that they're going to give their absolute best because the kids always show up when it's time to show out,” he said.
On the final day of practice before the band hits the road, Goodwin reminds his students of the significance of their performance.
“You are representing more than everybody in this room,” he said. “There are people who are looking forward to seeing you across the country, people who look like you, and I do feel like you represent them. I don't remember a time when a school like us went to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.”
Kofi Martin, junior and mellophone player, is looking forward to representing their style of marching band on a national stage.
“I really don't see a lot of people like me on national television, you know, like marching bands that play how we play,” he said. “I usually see a lot of corps-style bands, so seeing an HBCU-style show going on national television broadcasting for millions of people, that’s nice to know.”
N’dia Williams, a junior and trombone section leader, believes the most difficult part of preparation will be adjusting to the cold weather in New York. She’s never been up North, and the weather changes the way that instruments sound.
But she’s excited to represent Atlanta nationally, and confident the band is prepared to overcome every obstacle because they are, as she says, “true to this, not new to this.”
“I just hope they see all the hard work that we put in because you don't see a lot of people that look like me, you know, up there, especially a high school band,” Williams said. “And it just feels good to put our county, our city, like, on a map like that.”
Senior Allison Maxwell, who plays the piccolo, says to stay calm under pressure, she puts her best foot forward by remembering her responsibility to everyone watching.
“You think about the audience,” she said. “You think, they don't deserve a bad performance just because you're not in the right mindset. You have to give your best always, because you never know what somebody else is going through.”
Goodwin has been dedicated to creating transformative experiences like these for his students. He believes the opportunities help to expand the scope of their ambitions.
“It most definitely shapes their future aspirations because, No. 1, a lot of these students — myself included — never thought the band would get them to some of these platforms,” Goodwin said. “That lets you know that there are really no limits to the things that you can do if you really work for it, and you really dedicate yourself to the craft.”
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade is just one of many highlights for the band. The Majestic Marching Cardinals have attended the White House Easter Egg Roll and appeared in a Super Bowl commercial with Atlanta native and pop star Usher.
Their next major appearance will be international. In 2026, they’re headed across the pond, where they’re set to perform in London’s New Year’s Day Parade.
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