NEW YORK (WCBD) – The “Mighty Sound of the Southeast” performed live on the Today Show early Wednesday as they prepare to march the streets of New York on Thanksgiving Day. The University of South Carolina’s celebrated Carolina Band was one of 11 bands selected to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. All 375 members, directors, and support staff arrived in New York earlier in the week and many joined the Today Show on Wednesday morning to show off their school pride. Not only did the band perform in Rockefeller Plaza during the NBC morning show, but ‘Today’ anchor and South Carolina native Craig Melvin donned a USC marching band uniform and carried a drum for one performance. “We are so ready and so excited to be here,” said Jay Jacobs, director of the Carolina marching band of the upcoming holiday performance. University of South Carolina’s band to march in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade The cost of appearing in the annual holiday parade – including the trip to New York City – is left with the school bands that are selected to appear. Craig Melvin said during an interview with Jacobs that musician and USC alum Darius Rucker, women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, and head football coach Shane Beamer helped fund the band’s trip. “To the over 1,500 people who donated, and especially to those great folks, it just exemplifies what we have at the University of South Carolina – the great family atmosphere – thank you all so much,” said Jacobs. This marks the USC band’s first time appearing in the Thanksgiving Day parade. “It’s such a great culture and community. They make it everything it is. They bring the excitement level every single day and they work so hard all season just to represent a fantastic university,” said Jacobs of the band. After appearing on the Today Show, the band will share a performance with the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band at Pier 16 and then they’ll have a meet-up with Carolina alumni, fans, and family at Mason Jar NYC in the afternoon. The USC Chamber Players will present a dinner concert later in the evening to celebrate the Carolina Band’s participation in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the university’s musicians who will be in New York. Tickets can be purchased online. The band returns to Columbia on Friday ahead of the school’s rivalry matchup with Clemson University on Saturday. You can catch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on News 2 starting at 8:30 a.m. with an encore airing at 2 p.m.