Many years ago, I had the incredible experience of sitting out all night New Year’s Eve on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California, waiting to ring in the new year and watch the incredible Rose Parade. It’s an experience. People are allowed to have propane heaters and fires (at least back then!) Starbucks stayed open all night for caffeine and bathroom breaks. People cruised the street in their classic cars to have marshmallows and syrup-covered pancakes tossed at them (yes, they knew it would happen!). The night is filled with safe fun, culminating with the Pasadena Rose Parade the next morning. River Ridge High School’s Heather Hunt will get to march in this year’s parade as a member of the Bands of America Honor Band.
Heather will be playing the clarinet in the Rose Parade. She has been playing the instrument for eight years. “I chose it because at instrument tryout night in elementary school, it spoke to me and it was the one instrument I could get a sound out of. I loved that!” she explains.
At River Ridge High School, Heather has been first chair in wind ensemble, lead saxophone in jazz band, junior drum major and senior drum major.
Over 250 people make up the Bands of America Honor Band, including winds, percussion and color guard. Bands of America Honor Band is a program of Music for All, a nonprofit and one of the nation’s largest organizations that supports active music making.
Getting Selected for Bands of America Honor Band
Heather applied to Music for All at the urging of her family. “I submitted an application and my music/drum major coach put in a recommendation for me,” shares Heather. “When I applied, I knew it was a long shot, but my family encouraged me and said you won’t know unless you try. I was up against thousands of other high schoolers around the nation.”
Heather said that after making it through the first round of paper applications, she then had to send in a video of herself playing and marching in time. Then it was time to wait to see if she would be one of the lucky ones selected.
“I screamed and I jumped up and down in disbelief,” Heather says when she got the news she had been selected. “I could hardly talk. I was shocked that I was picked and, to my knowledge, the only one from Washington state.”
Since being selected, she says she has been in touch with Music for All quite a bit, preparing her for the big day. “They have sent music online, asked for videos of me playing the music, videos of me marching to the music, several Zoom calls with the Music for All band director and the other musicians. It’s been a very cool experience so far,” she adds.
Heather will get to spend a week in Southern California. They will rehearse, perform at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest, participate in special activities, and of course perform in the parade. She is looking forward to playing with other talented musicians in what she calls a, “once in a lifetime opportunity.” “I’m also excited to see the uniform custom-made for me and play at The Bandfest, part of the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses, a highlight of the Rose Parade,” she adds. “Each year, the marching bands chosen for the Rose Parade perform at Bandfest, showcasing their musical talent and creativity. I’m excited to perform in it and watch the other bands.”
The 137th Rose Parade presented by Honda begins at 8 a.m. on New Year’s Day and is themed “The Magic in Teamwork.” The 5.5-mile parade will be televised worldwide through the parade’s broadcast partners. Learn more on the Tournament of Roses website.
