Rose Parade marching bands

For the Tournament of Roses Parade, top marching bands from all over the world are invited. Many of the nation's top high school marching bands participate, along with college and organizational marching bands.

Londonderry High School Marching Lancer Band, from New Hampshire during the 2004 parade

The bands participating in the parade have also developed traditions. For example, Pasadena City College's Lancer Marching Band always marches in the Rose Parade, along with high school band and color guard students from all over Southern California, who are selected by audition the previous autumn. The Tournament of Roses Honor Band is a coveted position, and those selected are among the best student musicians in California. Nine of the high school trumpet players, selected by performance on their auditions, and the best snare drummer, are selected as the Herald Trumpets, who march directly before the Rose Queen's float and play fanfares.

University marching bands from the two schools participating in the Rose Bowl Game are invited to march in the parade. They typically accompany the floats that represent the conferences.

In 1891, the Monrovia Town Band was the first musical group to perform in the Rose Parade.

Bands that have a long-standing arrangement to be in the parade include:[1]

• The Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band
• The Los Angeles Unified School District All District High School Honor Band
• The Salvation Army marching band (89th appearance in 2009)
• The United States Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band

In 1965, the Mississippi Valley State College (Mississippi Valley State University) Marching Band was the first HBCU marching band to be invited to participate in the Rose Bowl Parade. They were also the first HBCU band to be invited back a second time to participate in the parade.

In 1998, the Washington Township High School Minutemen Marching Band from Sewell, New Jersey, became the first band in the history of the Rose Parade to decorate its entire ranks with live flowers, in keeping with the practice of decorating the parade floats. Designed by Todd Marcocci, this unique concept and design approach received tremendous support from all major media around the world. Since then, several bands have followed suit.