Southern Boone High School and Middle School Director of Bands T.J. Higgins has been selected to march with the nationally recognized Band Directors Marching Band in the world-famous Rose Parade on January 1, 2026, in Pasadena, California.
The Band Directors Marching Band is part of the Saluting America’s Band Directors project and will feature 350 band directors from across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Panama. The group will perform along the parade’s iconic 5.5-mile route alongside a custom float titled Banding Together, celebrating the educators, students and communities who make music education possible.
The project carries the national theme, “America’s Band Directors: We teach music. We teach life.” The band’s 2026 appearance follows successful performances in the 2022 Rose Parade and the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“This is an incredible honor and a great opportunity to showcase the importance of music education on a worldwide stage,” Higgins said. “I’m proud to represent Southern Boone, our students, and the profession alongside so many dedicated band directors from across the country.”
The performance will be led by nationally known music educator Jon Waters, director of bands at Bowling Green State University, who will also oversee rehearsals and a special Bandfest performance in Pasadena.
Southern Boone Superintendent Dr. Tim Roth said Higgins’ selection reflects both personal excellence and the strength of the district’s music program.
“Mr. Higgins is an outstanding educator who pours his heart into our students every day,” Roth said. “Being selected to march in the Rose Parade is a tremendous honor and a direct reflection of his leadership, passion for music education, and the high standards we strive for at Southern Boone.”
The Band Directors Marching Band is sponsored by the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, which was established to honor the legacy of the late Mike Sewell, who dedicated nearly 40 years to school and community music programs in central Ohio.
The Rose Parade, presented by the Tournament of Roses, will be televised nationally and internationally on New Year’s Day, showcasing Mr. Higgins and the Band Directors Marching Band to millions of viewers around the world.