The Waukee Warrior Regiment from Waukee, Iowa, will perform in the 133rd Rose Parade under the direction of Director Jeff Patterson, Chad Friesleben, and Chris Strohmaier. Photo credit: Waukee Community School District.

On Jan. 1, 2022, the student musicians that form Iowa’s Waukee Warrior Regiment will be marching in the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade. The Regiment is a combination of bands from two Waukee high schools: Waukee High School and Northwest High School. The Regiment will be led by three Directors of Bands: Jeff Patterson, Chad Friesleben, and Chris Strohmaier.

The Regiment was selected to perform in the 2021 Rose Parade in Oct., 2019, from more than 150 high school bands from around the globe. The group was one of 20 schools selected to participate and the only one from Iowa. When the pandemic shut down the 2021 parade, the Regiment was invited to appear in the 2022 parade instead. When first selected, all the students attended Waukee High School. But between the time of their selection and now, a second high school, Northwest, was built in the city, and about half of the Waukee students were enrolled in the new school. For their appearance in the Rose Parade, students from both schools will be reunited and will participate. Today, the Warrior Regiment is comprised of 325 ninth through twelfth grade students from diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds.

Co-Director of Bands Chad Friesleben said being chosen for the Rose Parade is a “tremendous honor.” Says Chad, when he was informed his students had been selected, he did a happy dance with Co-Director Chris Strohmaier.