Kentucky students to perform at Rose Parade

Louisville, Ky. – Everything is coming up roses for 10 members of a Kentucky high school band. They will be part of a 300-piece national group known as the Bands of America Honor Band and will perform in the 2026 Rose Parade.

Members of the 2026 Honor Band represent schools from across the United States. Five Kentucky high schools are sending students to demonstrate. The band will come together for the first time on December 27 and spend a week rehearsing in Southern California, performing at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest, and participating in special activities before their special performance in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.

Kentucky students performing in the parade are:

• Harper Hammon, drum major – Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School, Lexington
• Timothy Lee, flute/piccolo – Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School, Lexington
• Caleb Sosbee, clarinet – Lafayette High School, Lexington
• Joshua Wellman, clarinet – North Hardin High School, Radcliff
• Olivia Taylor, alto saxophone – Owen County High School, Owenton
• Cole Kiser, trumpet – Henry Clay High School, Lexington
• Bailey Stewart, Mellophone – Owen County High School, Owenton
• Carter Sosby, baritone – Lafayette High School, Lexington
• Micah Kelly, Tuba – Lafayette High School, Lexington
• Silas Poston, bass – Lafayette High School, Lexington

Richard Saucedo, composer, conductor and retired director of the national champion Carmel High School Marching Band in Indiana, is the 2026 Bands of America Honor Band Director. He will be assisted by Melissa Gustafson-Hinds, director of bands at O’Fallon Township High School in Illinois.

Saucedo said, “The Rose Parade is one of our nation’s national pageant treasures. The 2026 Honor Band members are ambassadors for America’s educational music and arts programs, as well as their schools and communities.”

This is the sixth time the Music for All Bands of America Honor Band has performed in the Rose Parade. The Rose Parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026, and will be shown on ABC.