Reid Roberts, a senior at P.K. Yonge High School in Gainesville, Florida, has been selected by Music for All to be a member of the Bands of America Honor Band in the 2026 Roses Parade® presented by Honda, in Pasadena, California. Roberts will join hundreds of performers from across the nation in this prestigious national honor band. Roberts is a member of the P.K. Yonge Blue Wave Marching Band under the direction of Robert Marski.
The Bands of America Honor Band is a national ensemble with over 250 performers including winds, percussion, and color guard. Richard Saucedo, composer, conductor, and retired director of the national champion Carmel H.S. (IN) marching band, will direct the 2026 Bands of America Honor Band, with assistance from Dr. Melissa Gustafson-Hinds, director of bands at O’Fallon Township H.S. (IL).
“Reid is a wonderful young man and an outstanding representative of the P.K. Yonge Band. This accomplishment truly reflects his dedication, talent, and the countless hours he has invested to reach this moment. We are incredibly proud of his selection to the Bands of America Honor Band for the 2026 Rose Parade and cannot wait to watch him perform for millions—both in person and on television,” said Robert Marski, P.K. Yonge marching band director. “Having had the privilege of marching in this iconic parade myself eleven years ago, I can say with certainty that it is a truly special experience—one Reid will carry with him for the rest of his life.”
Roberts, a trumpet performer, will spend a week in Southern California, where they will rehearse, perform at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest, participate in special activities, and deliver a featured appearance in the famous parade broadcast worldwide. The 137th Rose Parade presented by Honda begins at 8 AM PST 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. Magnificent floral floats, spirited marching bands, and talented equestrian units anchor the traditional, two-hour spectacle along Pasadena’s famed Colorado Boulevard. Learn more about the parade and broadcast at tournamentofroses.com.
“To be part of this opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for students, and a testimony to their dedication to music,” says director Richard Saucedo. “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 Reid on participating in this fantastic experience.”
Bands of America is a program of Music for All (MFA), one of the nation’s largest and most influential organizations in support of active music making. Music for All is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit educational organization.