“One two three…one two three… up the 50-yard line. Turn. Run to the 30-yard line.”
For most students, long, grueling hours of marching practice are just part of the routine of band life. But for junior James Wilson, those rehearsals became the foundation for something much bigger. After another exhausting day on the field, Wilson came home to his mom reading him an email, an email he would later realize carried one of the biggest announcements of his life: an invitation to perform Jan. 1, 2026 with the Bands of America Honor Band at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.
“At the time, I didn’t think it was that big of a deal,” he said. “But now that I’m looking at it, it’s the second largest parade in the U.S.”
For Wilson, the moment marked more than just an honor; it was a milestone in his growth both personally and musically.
“It means that I’ve grown as a person, grown as a musician as well,” he said. “I’ve gotten better at music, learning everything in between.”
The Rose Parade, which draws thousands of spectators each year, is a showcase of pageantry and talent. Marching in it is not only a recognition of skill but also an opportunity to join musicians from across the country who share the same passion. Though excited, Wilson confessed the nerves are still there.
“Yeah, I definitely say I’m nervous for it,” he said. “But I’m talking to the people that are in it. All of them are nice, and all of them enjoy what they’re doing. So hopefully whenever I’m there, I will be the same.”
Ironically, Wilson’s journey to percussion started almost by accident.
“Originally I wanted to play the trumpet because I just wanted to like music and I still like music, but my teacher said that they were low on percussion,” Wilson said. “[My band teacher] made me do percussion. That’s what I ended up doing. It was a good choice.”
That choice has now brought him to one of the biggest stages in high school marching band. Through the years of rehearsals, lessons and dedication, Wilson has taken away more than just technical skill—he’s found a philosophy for life.
“Just do your best. If you practice, it doesn’t make perfect, but it makes permanence,” he said. “If you try, try really hard, then you’ll only go up.”
Wilson said he hopes others take this advice to heart, not just in music but in whatever they pursue in life.
“Pursue what you like,” Wilson said. “And if you don’t like it, change it. Do something about it.”
For Wilson, what started as a push from his teacher to pick up drumsticks instead of a trumpet has turned into an opportunity of a lifetime. As he prepares to march in the Rose Parade, his story is a reminder that sometimes the choices we do not expect lead us exactly to where we are meant to be.
