The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association has named the 20 bands that will showcase their talents when they march down Colorado Boulevard at the 136th Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2025.
The lineup — selected by the association’s volunteer members based on criteria such as musicianship, marching ability, and entertainment or special interest value — will feature new and veteran bands from around the world and in Pasadena.
Two more bands will be added to the lineup for the 136th Rose Parade, themed “Best Day Ever!”, when the teams competing in the 111th Rose Bowl Game are determined in December.
Tournament of Roses President Ed Morales delivered the news to each band personally, and bands are now fundraising and preparing for the parade months in advance.
The 2025 Rose Parade bands are listed below alphabetically:
605 All Star Band — Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Lakewood, Norwalk, CA
The 605 All-Star Band, which was the concept of Mayfair High School’s band director Tom Philips, consists of 407 students — 360 in the marching band and 47 in the color guard — making it one of the largest bands to ever march in the Rose Parade. The high school bands of Norwalk La Mirada Unified School District join with those of ABC Unified to represent the schools residing along the 605 Freeway after the pandemic downsized each of their music programs.
All Star Marching Band Mexico — Puebla, Mexico
As the largest and highest ranked band in the entire country, the All Star Marching Band of Mexico brings together their diverse talents into one cohesive sound. With university marching band programs scarce and underdeveloped, the All-Star Marching Band from Mexico utilizes high school graduates to bring together the best musicians of the Mexican marching bands.
Banda de Música Herberto López Colegio José Daniel Crespo — Chitré, Herrera, Panama
As Panama’s largest school band, composed of students aged 12 to 19, Banda de Música Herberto López Colegio José Daniel Crespo seeks to honor all corners of the country by adapting Panamanian music into their marching band music arrangements. Their performances are not just musical acts, but a powerful expression of national heritage and unity for the country of Panama.
Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band — Fresno, CA
Having been recognized by the College Band Directors National Association as one of the country’s top eight college marching bands, the Bulldog Marching Band is a performance and entertainment ensemble vital to Fresno State, Fresno State Athletics and the Central Valley of California. Started in 1926, the band comprises members from every major on campus at Fresno State and is now at its largest membership with more than 250 members.
Helsingør Pigegarde (Elsinore Girls Marching Band) — Hornbaek, Denmark
Hailing from Denmark, the Elsinore Girls Marching Band has been merging traditional military music with modern melodies since 1957. The band, which performs globally, embodies the Danish concept of “hygge” — a warm, communal togetherness and cherished sense of comfort and belonging that is a cornerstone of their cultural identity — in every performance.
Homestead High School Mighty Mustang Marching Band & Colorguard — Cupertino, CA
Founded in 1963, the Mighty Mustang Marching Band and Color Guard has established itself as an innovative and entertaining performance group, developing its shows and style with a modern drum corps approach. The band learns and performs a new show each year with new music, fresh choreography, vibrant costumes and unique props, often featuring contemporary and popular themes mixed with eclectic varieties of music.
Kyoto Tachibana High School Green Band — Kyoto, Japan
Founded in 1961 with the intent of improving girls’ health, the band fondly nicknamed “Orange Devils” has since evolved into one of the oldest female marching bands in Japan. The band, whose motto is “Full of Energy, Smiles and Dreams,” plays almost entirely Western music, from gospel and big band era classics to recent pop hits and Disney tunes.
LAUSD All District High School Honor Band — Los Angeles, CA
Composed of more than 300 students from approximately 75 high schools across the country’s second-largest school district, the LAUSD All-District Honor Band has performed for various national events, including NFL Super Bowl championships, MLB World Series games, and with such artists as Ringo Starr and Jon Batiste. The band’s uniforms feature the colors of America and the distinctive West Point-style military shako.
Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets — Pasadena, CA
The Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets will triumphantly announce the Royal Court in the Rose Parade for the 45th consecutive year, with the elite unit — composed of nine trumpeters and one snare drummer selected from current PCC trumpeters and more than 70 Southern California high school musicians — dating back to the 1930s. The group will also participate in other Tournament of Roses’ events throughout the year, such as the Royal Court announcement and the flag raising at Tournament House at the break of dawn on the morning of the parade.
Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band — Pasadena, CA
Proudly known as “The Official Band of the Tournament of Roses,” the honor band is composed of the current PCC Lancer Marching Band members and select high school students from throughout Southern California, with more than 500 high school music students auditioning for the 225 spots in the band. The PCC Lancer Band also performs for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Royal Court announcement ceremony, the Pasadena Latino Heritage Parade and the Pasadena Black History Parade.
Pebble Hills High School Spartan Marching Band — El Paso, TX
With the motto of, “Excellence is an art by training and habituation,” the band has lived up to its creed as its the first group from their area to be part of the Rose Parade, in just the 8th year of the program’s existence. The Spartan Marching Band will don uniforms of all black with silver and teal accents.
Rancho Verde Crimson Regiment — Moreno Valley, CA
As a low-income Title I school, most of the students of Rancho Verde High School are first generation high school graduates and will be first generation college students, however that hasn’t held them back from growing the program from 45 members in 2003 to 275 students today. The band members have a collective diversity with 8 different languages spoken at home.
Salesians of Don Bosco Southern California High School Band — Rosemead, Bellflower, Boyle Heights/Los Angeles, CA
The Salesians of Don Bosco Southern California High School Band is composed of three private school marching bands hailing from around Los Angeles. Tournament President Ed Morales attended one of the three high schools represented in this composite band: Don Bosco Technical Institute.
Seminole High School Warhawk Marching Band — Seminole, FL
In 2017, after the devastating rampage of Hurricane Irma, the Warhawk Marching Band coordinated a city-wide “block party” that included more than 500 residents, community stakeholders and vendors to feed the lineman who had come to Florida from all over the southeast region of the nation, and who were working around the clock to restore power to homes. With over half of the city going on their 5th day without electricity, the band was able to bring the entire town together to honor these silent heroes, with the marching band playing music at the center of it all.
The Jackson State University “Sonic Boom of the South” — Jackson, MS
After having performed at the 2024 NFL Super Bowl LVIII halftime show with Usher and Alicia Keys, the Jackson State marching band is now primed for their appearance in the 136th Rose Parade. Consisting of students from both Jackson State College and Lanier High School, the “Sonic Boom of the South” is known as “Hollywood’s Band of Choice,” being veteran performers for the NFL, NBA, and television.
The Lincoln-Way Marching Band — Frankfort, IL
The Lincoln-Way Marching Band is a district marching band composed of the students from three Lincoln-Way High Schools across 105 square miles in the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 located in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. As an homage to the band’s past, a logo was created showing four pillars using the “L.W.” and the four school colors: red, blue, gold and orange.
The New England Honors Marching Band — MA, CT, RI, VT, NH, ME
Composed of the best college and high school musicians from New England, this 200-piece ensemble featuring winds, percussion, and a flag and dance team will come together for the first time less than a week before the Rose Parade. The band will don uniforms handcrafted to resemble the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, similar to those used by military musicians of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band — Carson, CA
Celebrating its 103rd march down Colorado Boulevard, the band consisting of Salvation Army musicians from across the United States, will once again feature a “band within a band,” including a special guest Salvation Army Band ensemble from Bromley, England. Salvation Army music ministries provide participants with a lifetime of fulfillment through musical excellence with spiritual purpose.
The University of Wyoming “Western Thunder” Marching Band — Laramie, WY
As the only college band in the state, the Western Thunder Marching Band will represent Wyoming in style, donning custom modified Resistol cowboy hats with branded initials that honor the cowboy and cowgirl culture in the state. The band is made up of students from nearly every academic major on campus and 13 different states.
The Woodlands High School Marching Band — The Woodlands, TX
Performing for 35,000-50,000 live audience members annually and countless more online, the Woodlands High School Marching Band will be no stranger to the bright lights of the Rose Parade. With more than 300 musicians in its ensemble, the band is a consistent award-winner, earning seven straight appearances in the Texas UIL State Marching Contest.
