Plainfield East Band Director One Of 275 Others Who Will March In Rose Parade

PLAINFIELD, IL — Plainfield East High School's band director will be one of 275 directors from across the United States, Canada and Mexico who will march as part of the first Band Directors Marching Band at the upcoming Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day.

Created by Saluting America's Band Directors, a project of the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, the parade entry is a historic, once-in-a-lifetime event that will feature an animated float leading the marching band. The band will pay tribute to "the exceptional instruction, character development and inspiration provided by music educators everywhere," the organization's website reads.

During the 5.5-mile parade route, the musicians will perform four songs, including "Strike Up the Band," "The Stars and Stripes Forever," "Sing, Sing, Sing," and an arrangement of "Seventy-Six Trombones" that was written specifically for the newly formed marching band.

Lesniak, who has taught at Plainfield East since 2008, said in a statement that he's excited for the opportunity.

"It’s one of those bucket list items as a band director you would love to be able to march or play or bring a band to participate in the Rose Parade," Lesniak said.

His students have even watched him practice his mellophone for the event. He'll travel to California with his wife and two children on Dec. 29, when he'll rehearse with the group for the first time, according to a news release.

"Whether you are 13 years old or 45 years old, it doesn’t change in terms of the process of learning how to be a musician and how to march, memorizing music, holding your horn at the right angle," Lesniak said.

The marching band's float will be decorated with roses donated by band members as a tribute to someone special. Lesniak donated a rose in memory of his brother, Anton, who passed away.

"While my brother hated roses, I know he would have loved the fact that I get to march in the Rose Parade," Lesniak said.

Hundreds of thousands of people watch the Rose Parade each year. For those who can't make it, the event is televised live.

(For more news and information like this, subscribe to the Plainfield Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!)