South Lyon High School sends 6 to Tournament of Roses Parade band

On Dec 26, 2021

Emily Berg of South Lyon High School has been selected to be in the Band of America Honors Band marching in the Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2022, in Pasadena, California.

Six students from South Lyon High School will march in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day 2022 in Pasadena, Calif.

The students auditioned for the prestigious honor and were selected by Music for All to be a member of the Bands of America (BOA) Honor Band.

South Lyon High School Students selected to participate are:

Emily Berg, senior, sousaphone
Layne Malek, senior, alto saxophone
Kyle Schang, senior, tenor saxophone
Nathan Schang, sophomore, trombone
Marianna Riminelli, 2021 graduate, trumpet
Maranda Willey, 2021 graduate, alto saxophone

The students were chosen from hundreds of applicants across the country to be a part of the more than 300-piece honor band national ensemble that includes winds, percussions and a flag and dance team. The class of 2022 Honor Band members represent 213 schools from 39 states, according to Bands of America.

Eight students from other Michigan high schools and a Grand Rapids Community College student were also selected for the 2022 honor band.

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Students will spend a week in Southern California ahead of the parade to rehearse, perform at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest and at Disneyland, and participate in special activities, according to a news release.

Richard Saucedo — composer, conductor and retired director of the national champion Carmel (Indiana) High School marching band — is the BOA director.

“To be selected for this opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for students, and a testimony to their excellence and achievements,” Saucedo said in a news release. “The Rose Parade is one of our country’s national pageantry treasures. The 2022 Honor Band members are ambassadors of America’s scholastic music and arts programs, as well as their schools and communities. Congratulations to Emily, Layne, Kyle, Nathan, Marianna and Maranda on this fantastic accomplishment and recognition.”