Members of the Lincoln Way High School Marching Band from Frankfort, Illinois, will appear in the 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on Jan. 1. Photo credit: Lincoln Way High School

Several excellent music educators will lead their student musicians in the 136th Rose Parade to be held on Jan. 1, 2025, in Pasadena, California. One of these is Dr. Bert Johnson, the Director of Bands at Lincoln Way High School in Frankfort, Illinois. This is the group’s fourth appearance at the Tournament of Roses Parade. The 200-member band previously appeared in Pasadena in 1982 and again in 2000, with their most recent appearance in 2019.

The Lincoln-Way Marching Band is composed of the students from three Lincoln-Way High Schools across 105 square miles in the Lincoln Way Community High School District located in the southern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. These excellent student musicians performed at the 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and was selected as a 2022 Bands of America Grand Nationals Semi-finalist. In addition, the Lincoln-Way Marching Band competed three times in the 2023 season were named the Grand Champion at all three events.

Music educator Dr. Bert Johnson will lead his 200-group marching band in this year’s Rose Parade.  Photo credit: Lincoln Way High School

Bert Johnson earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Anderson University in 1999. He earned his Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Michigan in 2007. In 2015, he completed his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy at Loyola University, Chicago. In addition, he also holds both a principal’s and superintendent’s licenses for the state of Illinois.

This accomplished music educator is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAFME), the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA), the Jazz Educators Network (JEN), and the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA). He has served as Jazz Division Chair for the ILMEA District 1 schools and is member of the Advisory Council for the Music Educators Development Division (MEDD) for ILMEA. In addition, Bert is a regular presenter for ILMEA. He was selected as a Golden Apple Nominee twice, and in 2007 he received the Illinois Jaycees award for the the “Top Ten Outstanding Young People of Illinois.”