NEW CUMBERLAND – A local band director will be part of the festivities leading up to one of the biggest college football games of the year.

Kimberly Smith, director of bands at Oak Glen Middle School, is among those selected to be part of the Band Directors Marching Band set to appear in the 2026 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. The band will be comprised of 350 band directors from across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Panama, and is part of the Saluting America’s Band Directors project of the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation based in Pickerington, Ohio.

With a theme of “America’s Band Directors: We teach music. We teach life,” the Saluting America’s Band Directors project works to spotlight the dedication and accomplishments of band directors, no matter their background, or whether they teach in public or private schools, colleges and universities, the military or community bands.

The Band Directors Marching Band will accompany a float entitled “Banding Together,” crafted by Artistic Entertainment Services to salute all the students, teachers and communities who come together to make music happen.

The band will be led by Jon Waters, director of bands for Bowling Green State University.

Iterations of the band previously appeared in the 2022 Rose Parade and the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.