MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Madison Central High School marching band is getting attention for a lights out performance this past weekend.
They're also working towards winning a state title and raising money so they can take part in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“Everyone is ready to win. Like everyone is going all in, the energy whenever we're practicing is very positive,” said senior Drum Major Reece Renzenbrink.
The group practices every day after school for at least 2 and a half hours, even in this 95 degree heat.
“It can get strenuous and exhausting, but you just look forward to the goal and that's what you shoot for,” said Renzenbrink.
Renzenbrink tells us the heat isn't going to stop their marching band, and as we learned on Saturday, neither are the lights.
Less than a minute into the band's performance at a competition at Morehead State, the field went dark, but the show went on.
“It was definitely shocking but it didn't phase us, that's the amazing thing about it,” said Renzenbrink.
“I started thinking I just hope no one gets hurt. You know there's flags and rifle tosses, part of the band goes up on a 12-foot scaffolding and they still did that in the pitch black, so it was a little scary. Then afterwards you thought 'wow they really did that, they persevered’,” said Assistant Band Director Audrey Worrel.
Madison Central went on to win the competition. Now they have their eyes on a state title, and of course, the school's first ever performance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
But the band still to needs to raise $50,000 for the trip. So they're asking for your help to make sure all 275 students get to march "lights out" in the big apple.
“We get to go out there on a national stage next to some of the best bands in the nation and show them what we have,” said Renzenbrink.
The Madison Central marching band is holding a fundraising concert on Thursday at the EKU Center for the Arts at 7:00p.m.
Tickets are $12 in advance, or $18.50 at the door.
To buy tickets, click here.
If you can’t make it to the concert, you can also donate directly to the student’s Thanksgiving trip. Click here for more information.
