On New’s Day, the Downingtown Blue and Gold Parade Band and Color Guard from Downington, Pennsylvania, will be marching in the Rose Parade under the capable leadership of Band Directors Ed Otto and Andrew German.

The Chester County band consists of all the student musicians from both Downingtown West High and Downingtown East High. Their appearance in the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade will make the third time Downingtown has marched in the event. The band also marched in the the 2001 and 2011 parades. The 300-plus member combined band was selected based on videos of both East’s and West’s field shows, previous notable parade appearances, and the impressive resume of the music programs for the two schools.

Downingtown West High School Director of Bands Ed Otto. Photo credit: Downington West.

Director of Bands Ed Otto earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from West Chester University in Chester County. He has been a music educator for ten years at Downingtown West. He has been a high school band director for 29 years, having also been the Band Director at Coatesville and Oxford High Schools in Pennsylvania and Pennsauken High School in New Jersey. Ed has been involved in designing, instruction, and serving as a clinician in marching band since 1981.

Downington East Director of Bands Andrew German. Photo credit: Downington East.

Director of Bands Andrew German teaches at Downington East. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and his Master’s degree in Music Performance, both from West Chester University.

This year the Downington Band and Color Guard students provided more than 3,700 hours of community service before their trip to Pasadena, California. In 2011, Downingtown became the first band in the history of the Rose Parade to integrate community services into fundraising activities for their parade appearance.

 

This New Year’s Day, the Homeworrd Patriot Band from the city of Homewood in central Alabama will be marching in the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade. The group will be led by Homewood Director of Bands Chris Cooper.

Founded in 1972, the Homewood Patriot Band is the largest high school band in the state of Alabama. The group is comprised of 395 members from grades 9 through 12. This will be the fifth appearance in the popular event for Homewood High School. In 1984, the group was the first band from Alabama to march in the parade.

Homewood High School Director of Bands Chris Cooper will lead his school’s marching band in the 133rd Rose Parade this year. Photo credit: Homewood High School.

Band Director Chris Cooper is in his 29th year of teaching and his first year the Director of Bands at Homewood High. He earned his Bachelor’s degree Music Education from Auburn University in 1993. While at Auburn, Chris was the percussion section leader for three years, an undergraduate assistant for one year, and the President of Phi Mu Alpha. Chris completed his Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1996.

For his work was a music educator, Chris has earned many accolades. In 2014, he was honored as the Homewood Grown Impact Teacher of the Year by the Homewood City Schools Foundation of Education. In 2009, he was selected to be the guest clinician for the Association of China and Mongolia International schools Honor Band held in Tianjin, China. During his ten-day stay in Tianjin, China, Chris worked with several International Schools. In 2004, Mr. Cooper was named the Teacher of the Year at Homewood Middle School. In addition, he was one of eight finalists for the State of Alabama Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Currently Chris is an active band and percussion adjudicator throughout Southeastern United States. He has conducted over 30 middle school and junior high honor bands throughout the area.

Jeanne Christensen, Director of Bands for Mira Mesa High School in California, will lead the school’s “Sapphire Sound” in the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2022. Photo credit: Bandworld.

The students who comprise the Mira Mesa High School Marching Band and Color Guard are excited to be making an appearance in the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade on Sat., Jan. 1, 2022, under the capable leadership of Director of Bands Jeanne Christensen.

Jeanne earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of San Diego and and her Master’s degree in Education from the National University. She has devoted 31 years to music education. She has been named the California State Band Educator of the Year Award in 2016. Jeanne is currently serving as President of Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), one of the oldest professional organizations for music education in the state. She also serves as a Board Member of California Band Directors Association (CBDA).

“I try to instill a passion, an appreciation, and a lifelong love of music with my students,” declares Jeanne. “My hope is that students will see lessons of life that go well beyond the notes, the rhythms, and the phrasing we are working on. It is about learning to work together, being an example for them, caring for who they are, building relationships, so that we are able to be human, and helping students to see the world is better when we support one another,” she continues. “The most important lesson I try to instill is to never give up,” she concluded.