Hayley Winslow, band director for Snow Canyon Middle School, and Mike Winslow, former band director from Desert Hills High School and current assistant principal at Crimson Cliffs High School, will join band directors from across the country on Jan. 1 in the annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Rose Parade. They are two of only five directors that will be representing Utah.

A custom-designed animated float will lead a “marching band of band directors” up to 300 strong from across the country. The Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, based in Pickerington, Ohio, is the sponsoring organization behind the project. The foundation was created to recognize and carry on the work of the late Mike Sewell, who dedicated his life to the school and community music programs in Pickerington and the Central Ohio area for more than 38 years.

The parade entry will convey the theme, “We teach music. We teach life.” The extraordinary dedication and accomplishments of band directors are well known to their students, to parents and to school teachers and administrators.

No matter where they teach and work—public and private schools, colleges and universities, the military, community bands—dedicated music educators and leaders work long hours to not only teach and direct music, but to teach life itself. Students’ lives in particular are positively changed by a motivational leader who taught, inspired and mentored them.

In addition to preparing to march, Hayley and Mike have involved the band students at their respective schools in a service project related to the parade. The service project for Hayley focused on a book donation drive. Snow Canyon band students brought books to donate, which will then be taken and presented to Lavar Burton, who is the Grand Marshal of the parade.

Burton is a well-known advocate for literacy around the country. Mike’s service project involved working with the Crimson Cliffs Band on a performance at a “Band Fest” night. Students from around the community were invited to the high school to learn about band, try out instruments and hear the band perform. The event included a donation drive for a local elementary school’s music program.

Hayley and Mike have taught in the Washington County School District for 17 years. Hayley starter her career at Fossil Ridge Intermediate School and has also taught at Sunrise Ridge Intermediate as well as Sunset and Coral Cliffs elementary schools. Mike also started his career at Fossil Ridge Intermediate, then moved to Desert Hills High School, where he taught band until becoming an administrator at Crimson Cliffs High School.

Hayley and Mike’s groups have consistently received superior ratings at festivals, and they are recent recipients of the National Exchange Club’s Golden Deeds Awards, presented for Outstanding Support of the Performing Arts. Hayley and Mike are passionate about music education and are looking forward to this opportunity.

Complete details on the project are available on the Saluting America’s Band Directors website.