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.
