Bigfork High School student to march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade

Gabriel Broughton’s Thanksgiving Day is going to be long.

The Bigfork High School junior will be standing on the streets of Manhattan, N.Y., hours before the sun comes up, rehearsing and getting in line for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Broughton was selected to play the euphonium in the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, which is made up of over 250 high school students from 50 states.

 This is the third year Bigfork High School has sent young musicians to represent Montana in the parade’s band, and Broughton is excited for the opportunity.

“I’ve been wanting to go since freshman year,” he said. 

Brought first got into music in the fourth grade. He started on trumpet, and then learned baritone. He began learning the euphonium, which is similar to the baritone, when the high school band was able to purchase one.

While he says he’s best at the euphonium, he enjoys getting to play melodies on the trumpet.

Like many Bigfork students Broughton participates in numerous activities, but has excelled musically.

“I really enjoy it,” he said. “It’s something I feel like I can accomplish things at.”

In addition to the school band he plays with the Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theatre Jazz band, and was invited to play in the honor band at Rocky Mountain College in Billings in January. 

“The Rocky Mountain college performance was pretty big, and that was a really cool experience,” he said. “We got to play in their auditorium and there were a few thousand people.”

He was offered a college scholarship for music by the University of California Baptist as a sophomore, and has been invited to spend three weeks playing in Europe over the summer.

But the chance to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade is largest opportunity he’s had so far.

“I’m really excited that Gabe’s keeping that tradition going of having a Bigfork kid in the parade,” Bigfork band teacher Randi Tunnell said. “You get to meet people from all over the country and do something that we don’t do, march in a parade.”

Tunnell works for the Great American Marching band during parade time so she can chaperone her students to New York. 

“I think I get more excited than the kids do about it,” she said. “As a teacher I love giving my kids opportunities. I get so excited that they’re part of something so amazing.”

Tunnell said the experience is really great for students like Broughton.

“This is just perfect for him,” she said. “He’s not timid and always has a great attitude.”

While Tunnell knows to expect long rehearsal hours at an indoor soccer field in New Jersey before the group goes sightseeing around New York each day, Broughton isn’t really sure what the experience will be like.

“I really don’t know what to expect too much because I haven’t been in a situation like this before,” he said.

Broughton will arrive several days before the parade to rehearse with the group and learn the performance.

He’s looking forward to watching the footage after the parade is done, and trying to find himself, and see how he did.

“It’s a really cool performance and I’m excited to be a part of it,” he said.

Broughton needs to raise $3,000 to cover the costs of participating in the parade.

Anyone wishing to donate can contact Kristen Broughton at 212-6237, or send a check to the school made out to Gabriel Broughton.