Here’s a bit of Good News that hits all the right notes.
Our own David Brooks, band director at Raymond Park Middle School, is heading to one of the biggest stages in the country: the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. On January 1, 2026, Brooks will march through the streets of Pasadena as part of the nationally selected
Band Directors Marching Band, joining more than 360 band directors from across North America. Together, they’ll bring music, motion, and meaning to the 5.5-mile parade route under the theme, “America’s band directors: We teach music. We teach life.”
For Brooks, this honor represents far more than a parade performance. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at one of the largest parades in the country,” cited Brooks. Brooks will be one of only 13 snare drum players selected for the marching band. “All percussion had to submit an audition video this past summer. I am honored to have been selected,” Brooks added.
The band will be led by nationally known music educator Jon Waters and sponsored by the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, an organization dedicated to celebrating music educators who shape lives through discipline, teamwork, and creativity.
And that’s really what makes this moment special. Brooks isn’t just representing himself—he’s representing every student he’s encouraged, every rehearsal that required extra time, and all the students who became lovers of music because someone believed in them.
From Warren Township to the Rose Parade, Mr. Brooks reminds us that band directors don’t just teach music—they help students find their rhythm in life. And it is teachers like Brooks that make MSD of Warren such a special place.
