It was announced in 2020 that “The Pride,” a fall semester, 357 member marching band organization at South Dakota State University would march in the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “The Pride of the Dakotas” tours and performs in the area and at home football games.
Regan Peters, a 2021 MMCRU graduate was considering attending SDSU in the spring of 2022. She was aware of the opportunity and that continuing her band career was part of her future. It was not the one thing that led to her decision. The New York opportunity was, “an added perk.”
Peters began playing clarinet in 5th grade. She also plays a little organ and a little guitar. Peters is a nursing student and remarked that this semester has been “demanding semester.” While in New York she missed 2 days of classes and returned in time to prep for finals. Her last final is for the semester is Monday December 12. Continuing with “The Pride” will be considered at a later time.
“The Pride” holds two-hour practices and another hour for football games. The organization began practicing the tunes for the Macy’s Day Parade in early September. In addition to their regular practice schedule they added Sunday night and some wiiknights.
“The Pride” left for New York on Sunday November 20. The band members explored New York in smaller groups. They went to the top of the Rockefeller Center and visited Chinatown and Little Italy where they had dinner. The Museum of Natural History at Central Park was not on the agenda, but a unique place they took time to visit. Tuesday took the group to see a performance by “The Rockettes,” the 911 Memorial, Ellis Island and Liberty Island where the Statue of Liberty welcomes all. Her favorite was the Rockettes. She described the performance as “under-hyped.” Peters called it “spectacular,” from the choreography to the costumes.
“The Pride” went to New Jersey for rehearsal on Wednesday. They performed at the “Intrepid air craft carrier decommissioned in 1974 and permanently berthed on the Hudson River as the centerpiece of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. They played 7 or 8 short pep band pieces. “It was great for the parents who came but had not seen a performance yet to hear “The Pride” play.
Thursday began at 1:30am for their 2:30am call time. Rehearsal with NBC began at 4:30 to position cameras and other technical requirements. The three and a half mile route was not a problem for the band. Peters describes the group as excited, having fun and full of adrenaline. “We were all having a blast,” said Peters. The weather was beautiful. “I have no complaints.”
Along the parade route “The Pride” was able to interact with the crowd at times, sharing high-fives and enjoying the day. Their actual performances consisted of numbers from “West Side Story” the school song and some street beats while in place waiting for shows in front of them in the parade. The group was home by noon Friday.
Regan is the daughter of Chad and Shelly Peters of Remsen.