Come Follow the Band

Marching Royal Dukes travel to NYC for Thanksgiving Day Parade

By Jim Thompson, contributing writer 
Posted on November 5, 2007

JMU’s Marching Royal Dukes have been selected to perform in the 2008 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Scott Rikkers, the director of the Marching Royal Dukes, announced the selection to the band after the Villanova game on Sept. 29. The MRDs will be one of about 10 bands chosen in the country, he said.

Bands have to submit their applications 18 months before the parade and include videos of the band’s performances and recent recordings and pictures of the band in full uniform to see how they will look on TV.

Rikkers submitted the MRD’s application with a video of their performance at the Parade of Champions, a competition hosted at JMU.

Rikkers explained that letters of recommendation were sent from school officials and other supporters of the MRDs, including Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling.

“Once submitted, there is a selection committee in place just for selecting bands to perform and coordinate the performing acts of the parade each year,” Rikkers said. “The committee does have a policy on performance eligibility. If you haven’t performed at Macy’s before you have to wait five years after your first performance to be considered again. After that, you can perform every three years if desired.”

The Marching Royal Dukes performed in the parade once before in 2001, the 75th anniversary of the parade.

 “As you can imagine, that was a very special year to perform,” Rikkers said.  “After the Sept.11 event, there was a period where it wasn’t certain if the parade would happen that year.”

Ultimately, the parade went on once officials agreed that enough security could be provided.

“It was what the city, and ultimately the nation, needed at the time,” Rikkers said.

JMU alumni Cassidy Turner was a member of the Marching Royal Dukes for the 2001 Macy’s performance.

 “It was an amazing experience to be a part of something that takes so much planning and behind-the-scenes work,” she said. “They keep the band’s pace with golf carts, and I don’t think I ever saw them take their foot off the gas. We were more like a running band than a marching band.”

Junior Sara Critz, a drum major, plans on leading the band to the Macy’s parade next year.

 “I’m so excited! I’m sure we’ll all be a little nervous, but it should be an amazing performance.”

The Marching Royal Dukes are no strangers to important performances. In addition to their 2001 Macy’s performance, the Dukes also marched in the 53rd presidential Inaugural parade in 1997. The MRDs were one of three bands chosen to represent Virginia and were the largest band in the parade.

Events like this provide JMU with valuable exposure to help the university grow, Rikkers said.

“An event like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade incorporates all of our objectives as well as our obligations as an organization, and is something we should do on a regular basis,” he said. “Just hearing ‘James Madison University’ announced on TV, in addition to them talking about our centennial, is fantastic PR and name recognition for the university and community.”