2020 Rose Parade marching band selections

By Ken Martinson, Marching.com Founder

PASADENA, Calif. (Mar. 14, 2019) — The Tournament of Roses has officially announced the lineup of marching bands for the 2020 Rose Parade to be held Wednesday, January 1, 2020. The outstanding roster includes an unprecedented number of international units, with bands coming from Costa Rica, Denmark, El Salvador, Japan, Mexico and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. The selections also include 14 bands from nine U.S. states, plus the two university bands representing the Rose Bowl teams, for a grand total of 22 bands.

In 2004 the Aguiluchos Marching Band became the first band from Mexico ever to appear in the Rose Parade. In 2020 the band will return for its third appearance.

The international flavor of the lineup is a direct reflection of 2020 Tournament of Roses President Laura Farber, who is the first Latina to serve as the organization's president. Farber was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

As president, Farber chose the theme "The Power of Hope" and she has a direct role in selecting the entries to shape the look and feel of the parade.

"Our overall goals involved having the highest quality bands from diverse areas and backgrounds — including geographic diversity — and also including bands with experience marching in the Rose Parade with those who will be coming for the first time," Farber said. "We believe this is the largest number of international bands we have had in the parade. Since I am the first Latina president, it was important to have representation from Latin America. We also wanted bands with compelling stories.

Laura Farber is the first Latina and third female to serve as president of the Tournament of Roses.

Laura Farber is the first Latina and third female to serve as president of the Tournament of Roses.

"We have bands from Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Puerto Rico. We have an all-female marching band from Denmark, and a composite band from Japan since the 2020 Summer Olympics will take place in Tokyo. We have the Southern University 'human jukebox' representing HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities), and Rancho Verde High School which has a diverse underserved community with many military families. My alma mater, Alhambra High School, will participate along with Mark Keppel High School and San Gabriel High School to form the Alhambra Unified School District Band.

"West Harrison High School from Mississippi, which was built as a result of Hurricane Katrina, will participate for the first time, along with Pearland High School from Texas which helped with relief after Hurricane Harvey. Baldwinsville High School from New York and Greendale High School from Wisconsin are first-time participants. Bands of America finalist Dobyns-Bennett High School from Tennessee and Owasso High School from Oklahoma are experienced Rose Parade bands, as is King Kamehameha High School from Oahu, Hawaii."

Farber and her husband, Tomás Lopez, will be visiting the hometowns of the invited bands throughout the year.

The 2020 Rose Parade theme is The Power of Hope.

The 2020 Rose Parade theme is The Power of Hope.

"We will prioritize meeting the band members during our visits, and will do everything we can to support the importance of music education. Many band participants have never left their towns, countries or states. This opportunity for them to perform on this world stage will be a once in a lifetime, life changing experience!"

The following units have been selected for the 2020 Rose Parade:

• Aguiluchos Marching Band, Puebla, Mexico
• Alhambra Unified School District Marching Band, Alhambra, California
• Baldwinsville Marching Bees, Baldwinsville, New York
• Banda El Salvador: Grande Como Su Gente, El Salvador
• Banda Municipal de Zarcero, Alajuela, Costa Rica
• Centenaria Banda Colegial University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
• Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport, Tennessee
• Greendale High School Marching Band, Greendale, Wisconsin
• Helsingør Pigegarde, Hornbaek, Denmark
• Japan Honor Green Band, Kyoto, Japan
• Kamehameha Performing Arts Ensemble, Honolulu, Hawaii
• The PRIDE of Owasso, Owasso, Oklahoma
• The Pride of Pearland Marching Band, Pearland, Texas
• Rancho Verde Crimson Regiment, Moreno Valley, California
• Southern University "Human Jukebox" Marching Band, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• West Harrison Hurricane Band, The Pride of South Mississippi, Gulfport, Mississippi

The 2020 lineup will also include the marching bands that have a standing invitation to appear in the Rose Parade each year:

• Los Angeles Unified School District Honor Band, California
• Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band and Herald Trumpets, California
• The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band
• United States Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band
• The two Rose Bowl Game University Marching Bands

Looking ahead ... the deadline for bands to apply to the 2021 Rose Parade is May 15, 2019.

For ongoing updates, check the Pasadena Tournament of Roses featured event profile on Marching.com and follow Marching.com on Facebook.

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2020 Rose Parade marching band selections announced