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.

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.

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.

The very colorful Na Koa Ali’l Hawaii All State Marching Band appeared in the the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2019. This is the fourth Rose Parade appearance for the 400-member group; the other three appearances were in 2003, 2009, and 2014. This unique marching band, which is comprised of members from 44 public and private schools from all over the state of Hawaii, was founded in 2002 by Band Director John Riggle, now Director Emeritus of Kailua High School and Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus. .

John, a California native, attended San Jose State University in San Jose, California, where he earned both his Bachelor’s degree and his Master’s degree in Music Education.

Following his college graduation, John inaugurated his career as a teacher and band director at Sunnyvale High School in the Fremont Union High School district in Fremont, California. He worked there from 1969  to 1977. During these years, the band flourished into one of the top-ranked marching bands of Northern California.

John relocated to Hawaii in 1977, where he became the band director for  the Kapalama Campus High School Band program of Kamehameha Schools. He worked there for 33 years. During his years there, the Kamehameha Schools Warrior Band and Color Guard became one of most renowned and successful marching bands in the country.

John retired in 2009, but returned to Kamehameha Schools as a temporary band director for the 2012-2013 school year. After that, he completed two years as a band director at Kailua High School. Recently, John retired from Hawaii Department of Education. Over the years, in addition to his classroom duties, John has also been an adjudicator, clinician, and advisor to other bands and performing groups.

Head Band Director James E. Thompson, Jr., of Lassiter High School in Marietta, Georgia.

Under the expert leadership of nationally-recognized Band Director James E. Thompson, Jr., the Lassiter High School Marching Band will appear today in the 2019 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.

“They’re super excited, as they should be,” remarks James, “and I think it’s something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.” Noting that the event is televised around the world, James asserts, “It’s really a one-of-a-kind event. There’s such an appreciation for pageantry and art and culture.”

James is originally from Savannah, Georgia. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 1999, and additional studies in music at the University of Georgia. As a high school student, James attended Savannah’s Herschel V. Jenkins High School, where he graduated in 1993. As a teen musician, young James was considered one of the most accomplished trombone players in the country. His talent was recognized with numerous awards and honors, including membership in the Georgia All-State Band, Georgia All-State Orchestra, and the Governor’s Honors Program. In the summer of 1992, James attended the world-famous Interlochen Arts Academy and was a member of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra.

James became the Head Band Director for the Lassiter High School Trojan Band in 2015. Today’s appearance in the Rose Parade will be the group’s fifth appearance in the popular event. Their previous appearances were in 1988, 2001, 2005, and 2013.