JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) -Two Northeast Arkansas high school band directors will represent the state in the prestigious Rose Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California.
Kyle Allman of Piggott High School and McKenzie Bryeans of Gosnell High School are among just five band directors from Arkansas selected to participate in The Band Director’s Marching Band.
“I decided to apply to try and get into it, and I really didn’t know if I would or not,” Allman said.
Bryeans said she decided to take a chance on the application process.
“And I just thought, why the heck not,” she said.
For Allman, the Rose Parade represents a significant milestone in his career.
He previously participated in another major parade as a high school student.
“My first year in high school, I went to a nice little high school in Florida, and my freshman year I actually got to march in the Macy’s Parade, so I feel like I’m kind of knocking off the big two getting to go to the Rose Parade,” Allman said.
Bryeans learned of her acceptance shortly after Allman told her about his selection.
She immediately shared the news with her students.
“And I told one of my good students about it, he was super excited, I was super excited, he’s a big football fan, so he knew exactly what it was. So, I got to share that moment with some of my students, and that was like really, really cool,” Bryeans said.
Both directors said the opportunity means more than personal achievement—it’s about showing their students what’s possible.
“I am kind of from Piggott, my family moved back to Piggott when my dad retired from the military, my junior year of high school, and so they can kind of see a Piggott alumni going on to get to go do that kind of big thing, that’s something they can do too,” Allman said.
Bryeans echoed the sentiment about inspiring her students.
“So, it’s really cool for me to go and represent my hometown on the national stage and show my students that anything is possible,” she said.
The Rose Parade will air on New Year’s Day at 10 a.m. Central Time.
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