From preschool to the New Year’s Day Parade together, two seniors are still making music. Falcon Brigade seniors Isaac Boyce and Elliott Glidewell are preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: performing in the 2026 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, as members of the Bands of America Honor Band, a national ensemble.
Composer and conductor Richard Saucedo will direct the 2026 Bands of America Honor Band in the 5.5-mile parade.
“To be part of this opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for students, and a testimony to their dedication to music,” director Richard Saucedo said. “The Rose Parade is one of our country’s national pageantry treasures. The 2026 Honor Band members are ambassadors of America’s scholastic music and arts programs, as well as their schools and communities. Congratulations to Isaac Boyce and Elliott Glidewell from Staley High School on participating in this fantastic experience.”
Boyce, a snare performer in the drumline, and Glidewell, a tenor performer in the drumline, will spend a week in Southern California, where they will rehearse, perform at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest and deliver a featured appearance in the famous parade broadcast worldwide. Boyce said the experience is especially meaningful because band is one of his greatest passions.
“Band is one of my favorite things to do,” Boyce said. “Getting to perform at a national level is really cool and a great experience for me.”
Boyce said the band program helped prepare him through discipline and work ethic. However, the journey was not without challenges.
“We only have one percussion instructor, so I’ve had to do a lot on my own,” Boyce said.
Despite this, Boyce hoped audiences would see his determination.
“I want people to take away that I have a lot of perseverance and that I’m willing to take band to the next level,” Boyce said.
Senior Elliott Glidewell was also selected for the Honor Band and said the news came as a surprise.
“I was very shocked, but I was very grateful,” Glidewell said.
For him, the opportunity was about more than performing; it was also about experiencing a new place.
“I’ve never been to Pasadena before, so getting to go there and perform is really exciting,” Glidewell said.
He said perseverance has been a major part of his musical journey.
“Auditioning for things and not getting them was hard, but if you keep persevering, you eventually get what you want,” Glidewell said.
He said he hoped his performance motivated others and wanted people to know that if they put their mind to something, they could do it.
Both students expressed pride in representing the school and their community on a national stage, saying it was “cool” to be the first students from Staley to be honored this way. They were chosen after an application and a recommendation from school band director Meara Mitchell, Ed.D. The honor band marches in the parade every four years, so they recognize the honor as rare, meaningful and something that will represent their school far beyond Kansas City.
The organization said the parade is considered “America’s New Year’s Parade,” and the 137th Rose Parade will take place New Year’s Day beginning at 8 a.m. PST with a “The Magic in Teamwork” theme, followed by the 112th Rose Bowl Game.
