About Saluting America's Band Directors

Saluting America's Band Directors (SABD) is a project of the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, created in 2017 to carry on the legacy of the late Mike Sewell, longtime band director in the Pickerington, Ohio school system.

The project was launched as a way to recognize and salute the extraordinary dedication and accomplishments of band directors everywhere—public and private schools at all levels, colleges and universities, the military and community bands. An all-volunteer advisory team of professionals in management, marketing, music education, fundraising and information technology plans and executes SABD events.

SABD created The Band Directors Marching Band (BDMB), which has marched in the 2022 Rose Parade with 270 members and, most recently, in the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with 400 members. The band consists of band directors and music educators from across North America.

An additional component of SABD is our Service Through Music initiative, which encourages our band members to plan and execute service projects within their own communities, as well as take part in national projects undertaken by the BDMB.