Rockingham County band director to march in Rose Parade

EDEN, N.C. — In his 11th year teaching at Morehead High School in Eden, director of bands Nathan Hines is getting to check an item off his bucket list. 

Hines was selected to be a part of the 350-member Band Directors Marching Band in the 2026 Rose Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California. The group features music educators from all over as part of the Saluting America’s Band Directors project.

“There’s no better professional development for a teacher than being able to interact with teachers from all around the country and even some from other countries,” Hines said.

Hines, one of 12 North Carolina band directors to be selected for this honor, will play trumpet along the 5.5-mile parade route. He previously played with some of the band members at the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York and expects a similar experience in California. 

“When [the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade] was over, that was two and a half miles, and it felt like it lasted 20 minutes,” he said. “Getting to play in front of millions of people there is pretty, pretty neat.”

Nearly 10% of the students at Morehead High participate in the band program, and many of Hines’ students are excited to see him perform.

“To get that recognition, to put Morehead and Eden on the map, sort of in a sense, that’s pretty cool to be a part of that,” said senior percussionist Enrique Garcia. 

“He really cares for everyone in [the] band,” said senior flute player Diana Mor Martinez. “He makes sure everyone here is OK. He likes to remind us that everyone in [the] band is important, no matter how small your part.”

Hines said he hopes his journey will be an inspiration to students. 

“I hope actually for my students that they see that and say, ‘Well, you know, he’s still doing these things and maybe I can do that too in the future,’” he said.

This isn’t the first time Hines was selected for the Rose Parade. He got a call to participate in 2021, but that event was canceled due to COVID. 

Now, five years later, this will be Hines’ first trip to California, and he’s planning to do some sightseeing on the West Coast.

The Morehead High School Band will perform in Hershey Park, Pennsylvania, in the spring, and the band recently received invitations to play at Pearl Harbor next December and in Ireland in 2027.

Hines also completed a service through music project with the Morehead High band as part of a Saluting America’s Band Directors initiative.

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