Mountain Home Public Schools band director Tom Chetnik is representing the district on a national stage this week after being selected to participate in the 2026 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.
Chetnik said he applied to be part of the parade after fellow Mountain Home band director John May previously took part in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2023. He was accepted earlier this year and arrived in California ahead of Thursday’s New Year’s Day parade.
Despite forecasts calling for rain a rarity for the historic event Chetnik said the parade will continue as planned.
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The parade begins at 10 local time and will air nationally on ABC and NBC, with streaming options also available. Chetnik said the group of about 350 band directors will appear in the second half of the parade.
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In addition to the parade, participants are taking part in a multi-day schedule of events, including a band festival, a performance for Altadena first responders affected by last year’s wildfires, and music during the float judging ceremony. The group will also have an opportunity to see the floats up close before they roll on New Year’s Day.
Chetnik said the experience has been both memorable and humbling, noting that directors are held to the same high standards they expect of their students.
He added that he is proud to represent Mountain Home on such a well-known stage and looks forward to sharing the experience with his students and the community back home.
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