Six stellar high school bands from around the country appeared in the Macy’s 97th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Thurs., Nov. 23, 2023. These bands were led by capable and accomplished music educators, and in this third in the series we introduce the remaining educators to you.
Director of Bands Steve Rivero, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Hailing from Parkland, Florida, was the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Eagle Regiment. This 162-member marching band is recognized as one of the finest and most comprehensive high school band programs in the nation. Director of Bands is the talented Steve Rivero. He has taught there since 2019.
Director of Bands at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School led his students in their first-ever appearance in the Macy’s Parade. Photo credit: Steve Rivero
Steve was named a quarter-finalist for the 2020 Grammy Music Educator of the Year. He also garnered honors as the Arts Teacher of the Year for Broward County in 2017, and honored as Teacher of the Year in 2002. He has also garnered the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, and the FBA Oliver Hobbs Award, in recognition of consistent superior band performances and commitment and service to the field of music education. In 2002 he was named Teacher of the Year at Hialeah High School, where he was teaching at the time. Steve earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Miami in 1995.
In addition to his work in public schools, Steve serves our country as the Commander and Conductor of the Florida National Guard’s 13th Army Band. Throughout his 35-year career in the Army Reserve, he has received numerous honors and awards, including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Florida Commendation Medal, and the Guam Commendation Medal.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagles Regiment Marching Band from Parkland, Florida, marched in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit: TapInto.net
The Eagles Regiment kicked off 2023 marching in London’s New Year’s Day Parade. In addition to its many awards and accolades over the years, the group has garnered three recent Grand Champion Awards at the Florida Marching Band Regional Championships in 2021, including The Jupiter Festival of Bands, The Lancer Jamboree, and The Falcon Sound Invitational. They are four-time State Champions at the Bands of America Orlando Regionals.
Director of Bands Dr. Melissa Gustafson-Hinds
O’Fallon Township High School Marching Panthers
Dr. Melissa Gustafson-Hinds led her students from O’Fallon Township High School in the 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit: Music For All, Inc.
Also appearing in the parade was the 290-member O’Fallon Township High School Marching Panthers of O’Fallon, Illinois, under the expert leadership of Dr. Melissa Gustafson-Hinds. This is their second appearance in the annual spectacular; their first was in in 1992.
Melissa has been the Director of Bands at O’Fallon for 16 years. In addition to her teaching duties at O’Fallon Township High School, Melissa serves as Music Department Chair and recently served as the President of District VI of the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA). She has also served as a Music for Allnational Festival clinician.
Melissa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, graduating with University Honors. She earned her Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 2000. She completed the requirements for her Doctorate Degree in Teaching and Learning, with an emphasis in music, from the University of Missouri St. Louis in 2010.
The O’Fallon Township High School Marching Band appeared in their second appearance in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit: KTLA Channel 5
The talented Director of Bands created a special program for her students’ appearance in this year’s parade. “Our message is about joy to the world. And so we combined Ode to Joy, which everybody knows with Joy To The World. And we spelled out joy at the end using parts of a wreath as the ‘O’ and then a ‘J’ and a ‘Y’ to represent joy to everyone out there on this wonderful Thanksgiving Day,” Melissa explains.
The Marching Panthers garnered awards as the Bands of America Grand Nationals Finalist in 2018. They have appeared in the Tournament of Roses Parade three times, the Fiesta Bowl Parade three times, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade twice. They. have also appeared in the Orange Bowl Parade, the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, the Waikiki Thanksgiving Day Parade in Waikiki Hawaii, and the Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade in Disney World, Florida.