Director of Bands Dr. Melissa Gustafson-Hinds will lead the O’Fallon Township High School Marching Panthers in their second appearance of the Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2022. Photo credit: St. Louis NPR
One of the marching bands that will be making an appearance in this year’s Rose Parade is the O’Fallon Township High School Marching Panthers, under the direction of Director of Bands Melissa Gustafson-Hinds. This will be the second appearance in the 108th Tournament of Roses for the Marching Panthers.
Melissa is originally from Monmouth, Illinois. She attended Illinois State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, graduating with honors. Melissa earned her Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She also garnered an educational leadership endorsement from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and her Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning with an emphasis in music from the University of Missouri St. Louis. She has been a music educator in O’Fallon for the past 13 years. Her career has spanned 27 years in all.
The O’Fallon Township Band Program has a long tradition of musical excellence dating back over 70 years, and is well-known for the high quality and comprehensive music education offered. The band is comprised of 224 students. “I think my passion, at least for music education, is providing just amazing experiences for kids,” declares Melissa.
Under Melissa’s direction, the Marching Panthers have been finalists many times at the Bands of America (BOA) Regional and Super Regional. They have also been named a Grand National Finalist in 2018. In 2018 the band marched in the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, California. In addition, O’Fallon Township has been honored with the NBA Program of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award and two Music For All Advocacy Awards. The group’s previous appearance in the Rose Parade was in 2015.
To read more about Melissa, see this article published about her by Music for All, Inc.
