Talented band directors help Puerto Rican students achieve Rose Parade appearance

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Maribel Lopez Garcia

Band Director Maribel Lugo Garcia, center, is one of three talented music educators who will lead the Banda Escolar de Guayanilla Puerto Rico in th Rose Parade on January 1, 2019. The other two are Parker Bixby and Kyle Thompson of Mercer Island School District.

Three talented music educators will lead the Banda Escolar de Guayanilla Puerto Rico through the coveted Rose Parade route on January 1, 2019. The 156 members of the band feel fortunate to march this year, having survived two category-5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria, immediately following their acceptance of the coveted invitation to appear. In the hurricanes, the band lost their instruments and their infrastructure. But they were able to pull themselves together, with the tenacity of their Band Director, Maribel Lugo Garcia and the generous assistance of Band Directors Parker Bixby and Kyle Thompson of Mercer Island School District in Mercer, Washington.

Under the leadership of Parker and Kyle, Mercer High School students raised $55,000 of the $190,000 the Guayanilla students needed to make the trip to Pasadena. In addition, the mainland students rehearsed and will participate in a joint performance as both schools march in the parade together. “This partnership is one of the things I’m most proud of in my entire career of being here (in Mercer),” remarked Parker. “This became about human beings connecting and being part of something bigger than what we’re all doing in each of our own band rooms,” he continued.

Music Director Maribel Lugo Garcia has taught music education for the pat 20 years, 17 of them at Guayanilla. She garnered her first teaching job when she was only 13 years old. That’s when she became her music teacher’s assistant during the summer vacation. While serving in this role, Maribel was able to offer saxophone lessons to children her age and younger. “It was at this moment that I realized that teaching brought me great pleasure and satisfaction,” Maribel remembers.

Parker Bixby has taught in the Mercer Island School District for 15 years. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Washington, and his Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Montana, where he served a fellowship as an Assistant Director of the Grizzly Marching Band. In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Parker is an active performer as a member of the Washington Wind Symphony. He is a member of The Washington Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Educators.

Kyle Thompson has worked in the Mercer Island School District for six years, but this is his first year teaching band. Kyle earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music at Central Washington University. Before coming to Mercer, Kyle was the Director of Bands at Cedarcrest High School in Duvall, Washington. He also served as a consultant with the UCLA Marching Band, among other positions. Kyle is an active member of the National Association for Music Education and the Washington Music Educators Association.

Tennessee’s Barry Trobaugh leads Munford High Band to the 2019 Rose Parade

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Barry Trobaugh

Munford High School music educator Barry Trobaugh.

Music Educator Barry Trobaugh of Munford High School in Munford, Tennessee, will lead his students in their appearance in the Rose Parade on January 1, 2019. The 204-member group will perform a tribute to Memphis music especially selected for the parade.

This is the 25th year Barry has taught at Munford High School. During his tenure, the band was selected the US Band National Champion (2011), and has won numerous local and state awards. They have garnered the State Championship three times and the Southern Region Champions three times.  In 2015, the group performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Some of the freshmen who performed in 2015 are now seniors, and will be performing in the Rose Parade.

Barry said he’s elated that the Munford High School Cougars were selected for the parade on their first try. “As in any leadership position within education, our job is to accentuate current activities, but also strive to provide additional and unique opportunities from which students will learn and hopefully maintain as memories throughout their adulthood.”

Barry is a graduate of The University of Memphis, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1982 and his Master’s degree in 1993. He is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, on the Board Council of Tennessee Music Educators Association, President-Elect of the West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, and a Program Resource for The Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps. Barry was also a semi-finalist for Tennessee Teacher of the Year in 2008. He is a native of Memphis.

Music Educator Tony White directs LA All-District Band in 2019 Rose Parade

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Music educator Tony White will once again lead the All District High School Honor Band in their annual appearance in the Rose Parade on Tuesday, January 1. For the past three decades, the group has been marching under the able direction of this amazing educator. Tony worked as a music teacher at John C. Fremont High School for ten years. Although he currently works as a professional jazz musician playing the saxophone and clarinet, he is still heavily involved with music and arts education, serving as the music and entertainment coordinator in the LA Unified School District. “The  challenge for me is maintaining both,” he asserts.

This chalkboard champion earned his Bachelor’s degree from University of California, Riverside, his teaching credential at Cal State Dominguez Hills, and his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Pepperdine University.

The 390-member band is comprised of student musicians from all over the Los Angeles Unified School District. The group has appeared in the Rose Parade every year since 1973, and has also appeared in Super Bowls XI, XIV, and XVII. This impressive band is known for its energetic marching style and powerful brass. And, a little-known fact about this band is that both celebrated musicians Herb Alpert and John Williams were once participants.

You can learn more about the Los Angeles All District High School Honor Band at  www.laallcityband.com. Be sure to watch their performance in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day!

Texas educator Akash Patel recognized as 2018 Global Teacher Finalist

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Akash Patel

Texas middle school teacher Akash Patel has been named a 2018 Global Teacher Finalist by The Varkey Foundation. The nonprofit Foundation recognizes outstanding teachers from all over the world each year who have made an outstanding contribution to their profession. Of the 50 finalists, the winning teacher receives a cash prize of $1 million.

Akash, who speaks five languages, teaches Spanish at Thomas J. Rusk Middle School, a Title I school located in Dallas, Texas. The school’s student population is 100% socio-economically disadvantaged. His students come from backgrounds that include gang activity, drug addiction, and juvenile offenders.

Akash inaugurated his teaching career in 2015 in small rural communities in Oklahoma. In his first year, he was recognized by the State Department of Education as their January Educator of the Month, and the Multicultural Education Institute as their Multicultural Teacher of the Year.

To promote global citizenship, Akash connects his classroom with professionals from around the world using social media platforms such as Skype, Google Hangout, and Adobe Connect. Over 1,000 volunteers from over 150 countries have joined his Global Connect database at the World Experiences Foundation, a charitable organization Akash founded.

In addition to his classroom duties, Akash is a frequent speaker at local and national conference, and he has trained over 5,000 teachers in Oklahoma to use his Global Connect database and other multicultural programs.

Learn more about this remarkable teacher by viewing the YouTube video below: