North Allegheny band marches for 1st time in NYC St. Patrick’s parade

New York City’s famous Saint Patrick’s Day Parade included some local talent for 2024, the North Allegheny High School Marching Band.

This is the first year that NA band director Steve Baldanzi marched the band for that occasion or any Big Apple parade, and it was momentous: “very cool marching down Fifth Avenue, huge crowds cheering us on the whole parade,” he said.

A total of 152 band members attended, marching 2.5 miles. The parade began at 11 a.m. with NA stepping into line 45 minutes into the event.

Baldanzi said he simply applied, and his band was accepted.

NA’s song repertoire included the Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m shipping up to Boston” and Chuck Mangione’s “Children of Sanchez,” Baldanzi said.

And the group took advantage of the city while they were there, visiting One World Observatory and Ellen’s Stardust Diner. Theater visits included “Spamalot,” “Back To The Future: The Musical” and the Blue Man Group.

Band members also visited the Ground Zero and 9/11 memorial.

The trip included 17 chaperones and five band staff to do room checks and keep everyone safe during the trip. The students were responsible for paying their own way, according to the NA District Band Patrons website.

This marked the 263rd St. Patrick’s Day parade, taking place along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, according to the www.nycstpatricksparade.org. New York’s version is the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world, with the first held on March 17, 1762, or 14 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The parade is held annually on March 17 at 11 a.m. in honor of St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, and of the Archdiocese of New York, according to the parade website. However, if March 17 falls on a Sunday, it is held the day prior so everyone can attend church.