Nathan Stowe, Greg Benson lead combined Pickerington Bands in 2019 Rose Parade

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On New Year’s Day, approximately 333 excited student musicians from Pickering, Ohio, marched in the 2019 Rose Parade. The group was formed with 172 students from Pickering Central, under the direction of Band Director Nathan Stowe, and 161 students from Pickerington North, under the direction of Greg Benson.

The combined Pickerington Bands marched in honor of their former Band Director, Mike Sewell, who worked at Pickerington High School from 1981 to 2015. Before new construction in 2003 divided the institution into two schools—Pickerington North and Pickerington Central—Mike Sewell took his students to the Rose Parade three times: in 1993, 1997, and 2010. The highly-admired music educator passed away in 2017.

Nathan Stowe

Director of Bands Nathan Stowe of Pickerginton Central High School.

Pickerington Central’s Band Director, Nathan Stowe, earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Capital University in Bexley, Ohio, and his Master’s degree in Music from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana. He has been teaching instrumental music for 10 years. “It is a great honor to be the Director of Bands at Pickerington High School Central,” remarks Nathan. “Our band program has a national history of excellence. The Tiger Band has performed in national Parades, OMEA state final contests, and for politicians.”

Pickerington North’s Greg Benson earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, summa cum laude, from Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. He is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Music Education at Capital University in Bexley, Ohio.

Greg Benson

Pickerington North’s Director of Bands Greg Benson.

Although this is Greg’s first year at Pickerington, he has numerous years of experience as a band director. Before teaching at Pickerington, he served as Assistant Director of Bands at Grove City High School in Grove City, Ohio. During his four years there, he was part of the leadership team that took Grove City to the Rose Parade two years ago. Prior to his work in Grove City, Greg served as Director of Bands at Gallia Academy High School in Gallipolis City Schools in southeastern Ohio. He taught there for two years.