HOME OF SALUTING AMERICA'S BAND DIRECTORS™
Advisory Team
Advisory Team
Advisory Team
Karen Sewell, Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, President
Karen is the widow of former Pickerington (Ohio) High School Band Director Mike Sewell. She was the inspiration behind the creation of the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation in 2017. Karen is the Foundation president and board member. The Foundation is the proud sponsor of the Tournament of Roses Michael D. Sewell Service Through Music Award. This award was organized by the Sewell family and the Foundation as a way to honor Mike’s dedication to using music with his students to encourage service in their schools, the community, and across the country. Karen & Mike's four children are alumni of the Pickerington High School Band program. Karen continues to support the Pickerington schools music programs in multiple ways, including the combined high school bands’ trip to march in the 2019 Rose Parade.
Advisory Team
Advisory Team
Tim Lautzenheiser, National Outreach
Tim began his teaching career at Northern Michigan University, moving to the University of Missouri, and then to New Mexico State University. During that time, Tim developed highly acclaimed groups in both instrumental and vocal music. Following his tenure in the college band directing world, he spent three years as Executive Director of Bands of America. In 1981, Tim created Attitude Concepts for Today, Inc., an organization designed to manage the many requests for teacher in service workshops, student leadership seminars, and convention speaking engagements focusing on the area of effective leadership training. After thirty-plus years of clinic presentations, some three million students have experienced one of his popular sessions. Tim presently serves as Vice President of Education for Conn-Selmer, Inc. He is a nationally recognized voice touting the importance of arts education for every child. His books continue to be bestsellers in the educational community. He is also co-author of popular band method, Essential Elements, as well as the Senior Educational Consultant for Hal Leonard, Inc. Tim is also the Senior Educational Advisor for Music for All, and NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants). He holds degrees from Ball State University and the University of Alabama; in 1995 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the VanderCook College of Music. He continues to teach as an adjunct faculty member at Ball State University, Indiana-Purdue/Ft. Wayne University, and Butler University. In addition, he is a member of the Midwest Clinic Board of Directors and the Western International Band Clinic/American Band College Board of Directors. He is presently the Chair of the National Association for Music Education Music Honor Society.
Dan Ross, Scholastic Outreach
Dan is retired from the Ohio High School Athletic Association as commissioner and executive director. His passion, enthusiasm and tireless efforts to promote the important role that interscholastic athletics and extracurricular programs play for students helped the OHSAA become one of the most respected high school associations in the country. He has served as a superintendent, principal, teacher, counselor, college instructor and coach for 33 years, as well as a contest official for 20 years. Dan earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Ohio Dominican College in 1971 and a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Xavier University in 1973. He was awarded his PhD at Bowling Green State University in 1983 in educational administration and supervision and has completed additional postgraduate work.
Marc Parulekar, Music Outreach
Marc is in his in his 20th year of teaching and serves as the music coordinator for the Pickerington Local Schools (Ohio). He served as director of bands at Pickerington North HS for 15 years. Marc has also served as a graduate assistant director with The Ohio State University Marching Band. During his tenure at Pickerington North High School, the band performed in the 2006 and 2019 Rose Parades, 2018 London New Years Day Parade, and won the Grand Champion award in the 2013 Fiesta Bowl Parade. Marc is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education Degree, Master of Arts in Music Education, and Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education.
The Directors
The Directors
The Directors
Jon Waters
Director of Marching and Music
Jon is an internationally known Music Educator and Band Director. Jon is currently Assistant Professor of Music Education and Director of Marching and Athletics Bands at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Previously as Director of Marching and Athletic Bands at The Ohio State University, his innovative use of iPads in creating unprecedented animated marching formations led to worldwide recognition and millions of You Tube hits. In 2014, he delivered a TEDx talk on "Tradition thru Innovation.” Jon also has led the Band Directors Marching Band in the 2022 Rose Parade and the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The Directors
The Directors
John Cisetti
Assistant Director / Service Through Music
John retired in 2019 after leading the band program in Louisburg, Kansas for 40 years. An alumnus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, John holds Bachelor of Music Education, Master of Arts, and Educational Specialist degrees from the UMKC Conservatory of Music and School of Education. He taught more than 350 students per day in grades five through twelve and produced more than 50 public performances each year. John was named a 2017 Laureate of the John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor and was recognized as the 2020 Outstanding Bandmaster by the Kansas Bandmasters Association. Under John’s leadership, the Louisburg Band marched in the 2018 Tournament of Roses Parade and was chosen as the first band to receive the Michael D. Sewell Service Through Music Award.
The Directors
Honglac Hathuc
Assistant Director / Percussion Captain
Rodney Miller
Assistant Director
Rod is a native of Springfield, Ohio, and life-long music professional and educator with a total of 36 years in music education. After earning his Bachelor of Music Education from The Ohio State University and his Master of Music degree from Cleveland State, he had a 34-year career directing high school bands and 2 years as the Director of Bands at Heidelberg University. Throughout his career, he was twice nominated for "Music Educator of the Year" Grammy awards. He has conducted professional bands across the country, including “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and The Toledo Symphony.
Jennifer Mills
Assistant Director
Jennifer@banddirectorsalute.org
Jenn has been an Illinois music educator since 2003, specializing in band and instrumental music, although she has taught music theory, history, appreciation, piano, and vocal and general music, as well. Her K-12 experiences were in rural settings where her bands won numerous awards. She moved to collegiate teaching in 2010, where she continues to teach today, and was a college band director in the Chicago suburbs from 2011-2020. Jenn is currently pursuing her PhD in Music Education from the University of Iowa, has her Master of Music from Kent State University (Ohio), a Bachelor of Music from Eastern Illinois University, and an Associate of Arts from Lincoln Trail College (IL). She holds professional memberships with NAfME, ILMEA, NBA, CBDNA, WASBE, and is a lifetime member of Sigma Alpha Iota. Jenn is also an SABD marcher – playing piccolo for the 2022 Rose Parade and the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Michael Reynolds
Assistant Director / Percussion
Michael@banddirectorsalute.org
Michael is currently an assistant band director at James Madison High School in San Antonio, TX. This is his 33rd year as a music educator and his 25th year teaching at Madison. Michael has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Indiana University-Bloomington (1992) and a Master of Music degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia (1996). He was a member of Star of Indiana Drum & Bugle Corps in 1988 & 1989. Michael marched snare drum with the SABD in the 2022 Rose Parade and the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He was appointed the percussion section leader for the 2023 parade.
Matt Taylor
Assistant Director
Matthew Taylor has been the band director at Lakeside Middle school in Perris, California for 22 years. He has been a music educator in the Val Verde Unified School district for over 35 years. He and his wife live in Grand Terrace, California. Matthew has gone on to earn a Master’s in Instrumental Conducting from the American Band College. This will be his fourth New Year’s trip down Colorado Boulevard, twice with Rancho Verde High School and now two times with Saluting American Band Directors. He also had the privilege to serve on the staff during the SABD’s appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Administrative Team
Administrative Team
Administrative Team
Administrative Team
Administrative Team
Administrative Team
Laura Miller
Treasurer
Nate Wise
Website & Marketing
Sam Berlekamp
Logistics Captain
Michael Borjas
Logistics / Instrument Repair
Derek Condo
Logistics
Eric Mills
Photography
Grace Lukich
Social Media
