JONESBORO, Ga. — As the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade draws near, the Majestic Marching Cardinals from Jonesboro High School prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime performance.
It marks the culmination of months of dedication, hard work, and a shared commitment to excellence. For the students, including Senior Gina Bell, marching in this iconic parade symbolizes much more than just a performance — the realization of a dream.
Bell plays the euphonium and is one of the dedicated students who will represent the band in New York City. Walking to school every day, maintaining an honor roll status, and dedicating herself to her music, Gina is a testament to the power of hard work and passion.
"Music is really my passion," Bell said. "My voice itself is not very loud, but I can project on my instrument."
For Gina, this journey is not just about the music but also about the family she’s found among her fellow band members.
"I’ve only been able to travel with this band. I’ve never left Jonesboro or Georgia," Bell said. "I know I’ve been part of this for four years straight. I love them, and I’m proud to call them my family."
Bell said she's most looking forward to seeing the Statue of Liberty and proudly representing her school and state.
"The Statue of Liberty, I’ve never seen it. My mom said it’s big, but I think she’s over-exaggerating. But I’m looking forward to that," Bell said. "People of my skin color, I haven’t seen that before. Not in a Macy’s parade ever, even online watching video. I do my research, so it’s an honor. It’s an honor, because I could be doing something else. I could be in jail. I could be doing something totally different than this."
For Band Director Lynel Goodwin, this moment is the culmination of a journey that began 18 months ago when the band was invited to perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Goodwin has been with the Jonesboro High School band program for nine years and praised the dedication and spirit of his students.
"What’s so fulfilling about this job is being able to see the students start at one level when they join the band program, to see them progress and evolve into the leaders they’re destined to be," Goodwin said. "The biggest thing is making sure they stay focused and understand the gravity and magnitude of what it is they’re about to accomplish.”
The application process for the prestigious performance was intense, requiring the submission of resumes, recommendations, and even performance videos. The students' hard work and community support have made the band's dream possible.
"It’s about a quarter of a million dollars to get everybody up there," Goodwin said. "They have to actually march a 2.2-mile parade, and that requires you to be athletic, fit and in shape.”
The band is known for its dynamic performances and unique blended sound. Goodwin, a graduate of Bethune-Cookman University, incorporates elements of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) style into the band’s performances. He stresses attention to detail, flair, and energy while maintaining the traditions of Jonesboro High School. "It’s a conglomerate of different styles," he says, proudly acknowledging the unique mix that defines the band.
The Majestic Marching Cardinals have called 2024 a "Mamba Mentality" year—a reference to the hard work and relentless drive exemplified by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant. Not only have they been invited to perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but they also participated in a Super Bowl commercial with Usher. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden invited them to perform at the White House. They’ve even been invited to perform at the London New Year’s Day Parade in 2026.
The band’s success is a personal triumph for its members and an inspiration to other students in their community.
"It means the absolute world to other bands who have majority-minority students in their program as well because it lets them know that if they work hard, they can have that type of platform as well," Goodwin said. “Representation is very important. To be able to turn on the television and see students that look like you that are achieving at high levels and you can say that’s an excellent program and that they’re putting in a lot of work to achieve excellence, that means the world to me and we don’t take that lightly."