Bigfork student Carson Cantrell will have to hold off on eating turkey this Thanksgiving to march in one of America’s cherished traditions — the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The 16-year-old will perform with his tenor saxophone Nov. 28 as a member of Macy’s Great American Marching Band. It will be his first trip to New York.

More than 245 students representing every state will make their live TV performance debut in Herald Square under the direction of Richard Good, director of bands at Auburn University; Barry Houser, director of the Marching Illini and Athletic Bands at the University of Illinois; and percussion instructor Doug Rosener, associate director of bands at Auburn.

Cantrell was selected based on his musical ability and past achievements. One of Cantrell’s musical achievements was playing in a 2012 Montana honors band.

The opportunity to audition was open to more than 14,000 high schools across the nation. Cantrell mailed his audition and recommendations in March. He received a letter a few weeks later.

“When I got the acceptance letter, I was pretty ecstatic about it,” Cantrell said, noting that it will be his first time marching.

He immediately told Bigfork High School band and choir director Randi Tunnell the good news.

Tunnell marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade last year when she chaperoned two Bigfork High School band students who were part of the Great American Marching Band.

“I can tell you, having gone through it once before as a teacher, it was probably one of the coolest things — the people they meet, what they learn — it’s phenomenal,” Tunnell said. “Carson’s the perfect kid for this. He’s very outgoing and full of school spirit.”

The Great American Marching Band members hit the ground running, packing rehearsals in to get the hundreds of students in sync.

“They probably practice nine hours a day,” Tunnell said. “They are practicing until 2 a.m. the day of the parade. They get in line at 6 a.m., and the parade doesn’t start until 9 a.m. They work their tails off learning marching fundamentals and tuning. All the music has to be memorized.”

Cantrell also will have the opportunity to attend leadership workshops. The program includes meals, lodging and sightseeing. He is asking for donations to raise roughly $3,000 to cover all expenses and secure a plane ticket by October.

Donations may be mailed to Bigfork High School, Attention: Music Department, 600 Commerce St., Bigfork, MT 59911. Make checks payable to Bigfork High School Band and note they are for Carson Cantrell.

Cantrell is a junior this year at Bigfork High School. He has been part of the school band since fifth grade. He initially taught himself to play alto saxophone in second grade on an instrument that his mother played in high school.

“I think my mom pulled it out of the closet one day and I said, ‘Oh, I want to learn how to play,’ so we bought a book,” Cantrell said.

In addition to the alto and tenor saxophones, Cantrell plays bassoon.

For more information, contact Tunnell at rtunnell@bigfork.k12.mt.us. or call 837-7420, ext. 251.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.