The Jamestown High School "Red Raider" Marching Band has had an outstanding tradition of excellence dating back to 1924. They have competed locally as well as nationwide in Concert, Parade, and Marching Band competitions. Their accomplishments include representing New York State at the Festival of States in St. Petersburg, Florida (1982 and 1988). The Band also represented New York City at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (1984, 1989, and 1995). The 1989 Macy’s trip included 2 national television appearances on the David Letterman Show and in 1995 they appeared on NBC’s The Today Show. In 1986 the Band performed on New Year’s Day at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. The Concert Band appeared in concert in Carnegie Hall in 1998. In 2000, the Band was named “Grand Champion International” at the North American Music Festival Competition in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Band traveled to the FedEx Orange Bowl as New York State Representatives in 2004. There, they placed first in both categories, parade band and field competition, and won the right to perform at Pre-Game. In December of 2007 the Band traveled to Orlando, FL and performed in the nationally televised Citrus Parade and Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Time Parade at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World. The Marching Band has participated in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City (2010) and Chicago (2017). The Band traveled to Disney World to participate in the Electric Light Parade in the Magic Kingdom in 2012 and 2014. In December of 2019 the Marching Band traveled to Disney World to perform in the Magic Kingdom’s New Year’s Eve Parade!
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Red Raiders have made three appearances in the Parade's history. they first appeared in the1984 Parade, then they returned in the 1989 Parade, and they were last seen in the 1995 Parade.