BY SARAH STEPHENS, OWNER/EDITOR
A junior at Stanhope Elmore High School will be able to showcase her musical talents after being selected to perform during the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. There is currently a GoFundMe account established to help her make the trip, or you can make donations through Stanhope Elmore High School.
We asked Denedjah Peak (DeeDee) to send us information about her, and the upcoming parade. If you would like to donate to help her in her cause, more information is within the article below.
FROM DENEDJAH PEAK –
Hi, my name is Denedjah Peak. I’m 17 and am currently in 11th grade and attend Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook, Alabama.
On an academic level, my GPA is a 4.0 and I am in the top three percent of my class. I participate in a large number of extracurricular activities including Spanish Club (President), Key Club (Secretary), Student Government Association, Beta Club and have also been inducted into the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society) – and of course Marching and Concert Band, where I play clarinet during the marching season(August-November) and bass clarinet during the concert season (December-May). This is while maintaining my grades and GPA.
I have been in band since the seventh grade and plan to continue my music career throughout college. Marching Band is an activity that is unique and only a few ever take the opportunity to ever join. For me, music is a true art and passion that I feel most musicians, including myself, connect with – which helps to put a deeper meaning and understanding in any piece of music played.
I always want to participate in musical events and anything else that can always help me become a better musician, bringing me to my audition for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.
I submitted a recorded audition – which included a musical solo and basic marching drill – because I thought it would be interesting to audition to be in a band for a parade known throughout the country. I always think “what more can I do?” because I believe that there is always more that can be done.
Last year, Stanhope Elmore High graduate David Persky also auditioned and was able to perform in the parade and from what he has told me it has been an amazing experience. After submitting my audition and my application to be accepted or not, I shortly received an email stating “congratulations” for me being able to perform in the Macy’s Great American Marching Band at the Thanksgiving Parade in New York City. I was able to have the support and share the good news with my sister, Shemai’ya Peak, my mom, Susan Glover, and my brother Deshawne Peak.
I am truly excited to travel, sightsee and explore beautiful New York City, where I have never been before. Everything about my opportunity to go to New York and perform in the parade is amazing to me. I am excited to expand my musical career and learn so much more than I already know. If people would like to watch me perform on Thanksgiving Day, they can watch the parade live on NBC from 9 a.m. till noon. I want what I have done to be a message to anybody out there, even if they do not play an instrument. You have to just take the smallest amount of courage, hope, and bravery to overcome whatever you fear and do it because the only person that is really stopping you from succeeding would be yourself. You can overcome the fear and worry by doing something you never thought you could do before.
Life is filled with exhilarating surprises but you should learn that nothing ever needs to stop you from achieving anything in this world, ever. Take chances, be bold, be brave, overcome – and most importantly, breathe. You are going to be okay and you’ve got this!
I am so thankful and, once again, excited for my opportunity to go to New York. Unfortunately, I need help to raise money for my trip for
