Living the dream: NC band director to march in parade at Rose Bowl

A local high school band director is headed to California to play in the famous Tournament of Roses parade, part of the Rose Bowl.

Geoffrey Tart hit a low night during the silent spring, when COVID shut the school down and the band stayed home.

"When silence is around, there is no learning in my opinion, especially in the band world," said Tart, who was directing at Hobbton High School at the time.

When the world stopped turning in 2020, Tart went to Facebook and posted, "I'm depressed."

In response, the band got back together – and drove by Tart's house to help wash those blues away.

Now, more than a year and a half later, he's the band director at Clinton High School, his alma mater.

Being in the Tournament of Roses parade is his childhood dream.

"I always watched Macy's parade and the Rose Bowl parade growing up, and I was like man, that would be an awesome opportunity," he said.

The invitation to live his dream came two years ago.

But COVID canceled the Rose Bowl, delaying his dream.

Now it's back again, and Tart is one of only two school band directors from North Carolina who will march on those magical 5.5 miles in Pasadena. It's part of a project called "Saluting America's Band Directors."

"They're hoping this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the band directors in our nation," he said.

Three hundred teachers from all 50 states will be in full flower; Tart is among 49 trumpeters playing for an audience of millions.

"In my mind, I will be doing this for the state and community and the band directors that have been in my life," said Tart.

His footsteps will have him marching in honor of his teacher – the late Ed Taylor, his own band director from way back.

"He was my American Idol growing up," said Tart. "I said one day, I want to be like him."

And here he goes – following in his footsteps. And trumpeting a new year – starting off on a high note.