Highlander Way Middle School Student Services Advisor Selected to March in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Posted on 11/20/2023
11/20/2023 - This Thanksgiving, Maureen Gray, Highlander Way Middle School student services advisor, will travel to New York City to join a marching band of 400 band directors from across the country in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Sponsored by the Saluting America's Band Directors project, this will be the Band Directors Marching Band's second performance after its inaugural appearance in the 2022 Rose Parade. Gray was also part of that performance.
For the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Saluting America's Band Director's parade entry will again convey its theme, "America's band directors: We teach music. We teach life." to recognize the extraordinary dedication and accomplishments of band directors and music educators everywhere. Throughout their careers, the music educators in this band have collectively mentored and taught hundreds of thousands of students. These professionals not only teach and direct music, but they also teach about life itself. The band will be directed by nationally known music educator and innovative band director Jon Waters.
"I am honored to once again join band directors from across the country in shining the spotlight on the important role that band directors and music education play in our nation's schools and communities. While I may have moved out of the band room, I will always be a band director at heart," said Gray. "Being selected to perform with this group is extra special to me, as the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation sponsors the Saluting America's Band Directors project. Mr. Sewell was my high school band teacher, and this is one way to honor his legacy and the impact he had on me and thousands of students during his career."
The sponsoring organization behind the Saluting America's Band Directors project is 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 almost 40 years.