By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

Freshman trumpeter Brian Behrman (center) and the band have been practicing their music and marching, and building up their stamina for the nearly three-mile walk down Central Park West and Broadway next week. (Jeff Swinger photos) | ZOOM |

ANDERSON TWP. - Austin Barker has watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade every year for as long as he can remember, never dreaming he would one day be a participant.

But the Turpin High freshman bass drummer is one of 160 musicians, field commanders and color guard members who will be in the national limelight for 90 seconds next week during the three-hour parade when television crews focus on the Spartans' rendition of "Pinball Wizard" from the rock opera Tommy.

It is the second consecutive year a Southwest Ohio school - the only school chosen this year from Ohio - will participate in the nationally televised parade that typically draws 2.5 million observers along the three-mile route and another 65 million television viewers, said Deanna Williams, Macy's spokeswoman.

A year ago, the Firecrackers jump rope team from Kings High School in Warren County performed.

In 1998, 45 students from Princeton High School performed as part of the group, "America Sings!"

The Turpin Marching Band walks through practice Tuesday in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. | ZOOM |

"It's a huge opportunity,'' said Austin, 14. "I don't think even now I realize how big it is. I'm more nervous about messing up for the band than the audience."

Preparation began more than a year ago after band director John Fecker was notified in May 2001 that the band had been selected to perform in the 2002 parade. It was the third time Mr. Fecker had completed the lengthy application process, which included videotapes of the band's performances.

Bands are selected the year before they are scheduled to perform, Ms. Williams said.

After learning the band was accepted, Mr. Fecker taped the 2001 parade and spent summer 2001 reviewing the tape with his assistant Charles Ferrara, percussion assistant Doug Hurst and color guard adviser Chris Sluder. "I spent the summer watching what others did, what music they selected, the timing," Mr. Fecker said.

A special routine timed exactly to parade specifications was put together, videotaped and sent to parade directors last month.

ON THE AIR

What: 76th annual Macy's Day Parade When: 9 a.m.-noon Nov.28 Where: Channels 5, 22

Once the band got the green light, practices began in earnest.

Besides the 90-second segment for TV, the band put together a routine to be repeated along the parade route. It includes the school's fight song as well as "Smoke on the Water," the theme from Raiders of the Lost Ark and "Le Regiment."

"I'm just a little nervous,'' said sophomore Alex Murphy, 15. "I hope we don't fall!"

For 60 minutes Tuesday afternoon, band members marched around the football track while playing their instruments in anticipation of the nearly three-mile parade route.

"We're doing conditioning around the track so people can build up their muscles," Alex said.

This is the first time any group from the Forest Hills School District has been in a national parade, Mr. Fecker said. Excitement is building among students and staff with a pep rally sendoff scheduled for Monday.

Thanksgiving Day itself will be a long one for the students. Dress rehearsal will begin between 2:45 and 5 a.m., Mr. Fecker said.

Seven charter buses will transport the students, 25 chaperones and 200 fans to New York City. A half-dozen fund-raisers in the past 18 months helped defray the $750 cost per person.

While in New York - the group returns Friday night - the band will see a Broadway show, visit Ground Zero, take a dinner cruise around Manhattan and visit the Empire State Building.

E-mail suek@infi.net