Prairie View A&M Marching Storm gets Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade surprise

Officials announce they will march in the 2017 parade

HOUSTON – Prairie View A&M will bring the beat to the 2017 Macy's Parade.

Parade officials surprised the band Tuesday morning with the announcement that they have been selected out of hundreds of nationwide applicants for one of 10 marching band performing slots in the annual holiday tradition.

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The news was delivered at a surprise gathering arranged by school staff.

"It's my job to look across the country and identify the finest student musicians in the country, and it's my professional opinion that the Marching Storm is one of the finest marching bands in the United States," Wesley Whatley, the parade's creative director, said.

Whatley said he saw the students perform at Honda's Battle of the Bands about nine years ago, and since then, the Marching Storm has been one of his favorite ensembles.

"You guys are extraordinary. What you do on the field is nothing short of one of the most entertaining things I think I've ever seen," Whatley said. "We at Macy's are very proud to welcome you to the parade for the first time."

Organizers said more than 50 million people view the parade each year.