Former NIU band director selected to march in 2022 Rose Bowl Parade

A local face in the music community has been selected to be a part of the first All-American Band Director’s Band, and will march in the 2022 Rose Bowl parade, according to a recent announcement.

Michael Embrey, former NIU Marching Band Director, was selected to join current and former band directors from across the country to be part of the first All-American Band Director’s Band. The band will make its first appearance on Jan. 1, 2022 in the annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Rose Parade.

“I am both honored and humbled to be selected to be part of this special organization,” said Embrey in a statement. “The Tournament of Roses Parade held in Pasadena, California is the world’s most-watched parade.”

A custom-designed animated float will lead a marching band of band directors up to 275 strong from across the country, according to the news release. The project is sponsored by the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, based in Pickerington, Ohio. The foundation was created to recognize and carry on the work of the late Mike Sewell, who dedicated his life to the school and community music programs in Pickerington and the Central Ohio area for more than 38 years.

Saluting America’s Band Directors will include approximately 275 fellow band directors from across the continent. The band will be perform “Seventy-Six Trombones,” “Stars and Stripes Forever,” and original piece “The Gift of Time.”

According to the release, Embrey is a former member of the USAF Band/Drum & Bugle Corps. After his military duty, he played professionally before his role as marching band director at NIU. He continues to work in the music field as an arranger, show designer and producer. His company hosts a variety of student music festivals and competitions in the United States.

Embrey also performs at a variety of military events including military funerals and civic events. On Nov. 7, Embrey will be part of special Bugle detail playing “Taps” at the 100th Anniversary of the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier”. Embrey has also performed “Taps” at the American Cemetery in Normandy Beach, France in 2016.

The Rose Parade entry will celebrate the theme, “We teach music. We teach life.”

Complete details on the project are available on the Saluting America’s Band Directors website, HYPERLINK “[ https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.BandDirectorSalute.org/__;!!M4vhdRTxuY8!kOcigWJrpHlLpr1IJYEeu5Ky1LgCr_6eEsYCr2zDm6Nqs3qHR5DUG26oj1X3-hdq$ ]http://www.BandDirectorSalute.org/”BandDirectorSalute.org.