Band director, Georgia Southern alumna joins esteemed music educators in 2026 Rose Parade 

“The banging, the blasting, the buzzing and beating – that’s our comfort zone,” Joy Harden (’98) proudly said, surrounded by the symphony of sounds generated by band students at Keys Gate Charter School in Homestead, Fla., about an hour south of Miami. Typically, the band room is where Harden spends most of her time surrounded by the noise of young musicians. 

However, the first of the year brought a new sound, one that was uniquely unfamiliar to the experienced band director, but welcoming just the same. 

Harden was among a group of almost 400 band directors who gathered from across the country as well as Canada, Mexico and Panama to perform in unison for this year’s “Banding Together” float in the 2026 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. 

“The route was over five miles long, but the energy of the group kept us motivated even through the rain,” Harden said, recalling the downpour that could have dampened the experience. “We were all proud to be there. Nothing could stop us from playing together.” 

Each year, the group of veteran educators is among the crowd favorites of the parade.  

“It felt like band camp, or honor band – it was like turning into band kids again, because in our hearts, we all are; we all grew up in band. Our group of people had never been together in one place prior to meeting for our first rehearsal on Dec. 28,” Harden explained. “But, the experience was incredible. We created a great sound in a short amount of time.” 

The parade itself wasn’t the only highlight of the adventure, however. 

“Almost every day after our initial meeting was a combination of rehearsals and community performances. We performed at Float Fest and Band Fest and had a ton of rehearsal time together as an ensemble. In less than a week, we were already one unified sound,” said Harden. 

This year’s parade theme centered around “The Magic of Teamwork.” But Harden said working together goes beyond performing with other talented music educators — it’s a life skill that marching band works to instill in the hearts of students everywhere. 

“It was great to be able to share ideas and concepts with other band directors. We love to share with each other. We started a group chat, and many of us are still talking a month later and sharing our worlds with each other,” Harden said as she reflected on the experience. 

Teamwork and togetherness is something that she hopes to not only embody, but to inspire in the students she teaches and mentors throughout her career. 

 

She said, “It’s scary being in a position where you know you have a lot of influence on young lives, but Georgia Southern really prepared me for this role and I love what I do.” 

Harden grew up in a family of musicians and knew from a young age that she would pursue music education. After picking up a love for the flute in the fifth grade, she would switch to the piccolo later on

Before graduating from Georgia Southern’s school of music in 1998, she was part of the Southern Pride Marching Band. Unlike the rest of her family who pursued music in more concert-type and choral settings, Harden found a unique sense of community and energy from marching band that acted as a catalyst for her life-long career. 

“I did pursue a double major in woodwind ensemble and vocal arts. Dr. Matt Fallon was the leader of Southern Pride, and Dr. Daniel Pittman was the joyful, but powerful leader of the wind ensemble at the time,” she reflected. “They were amazing to work under. The faculty of Georgia Southern, along with my high school marching band directors, gave me challenging ensemble literature. That inspired me as a musician, but also shaped who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It also influenced what I wanted to share with other students.”

Although Harden had several schools to choose from with her extensive background in instrumental and vocal performance, she said that Georgia Southern’s program stood out as a clear choice for those seeking a high-quality, robust music program. 

As a native of south Georgia, the University held a fantastic reputation among aspiring music educators. 

“I graduated from Tift County High School, home of the Blue Devils, and Georgia Southern stood out to me as a great opportunity to expand my education,” Harden added. “I was very blessed to have incredible instructors, and because of them I was able to do what I love today.” 

Serving as a band director comes with a host of challenges and responsibilities. Despite her sometimes busy and chaotic schedule, Harden finds satisfaction in playing a leading role in the lives of her students. 

“Band directors often have students for an extended period of time,” Harden explained. “We often teach outside of school hours, participating in a variety of extracurricular activities involving our band. But, they are my people. Being surrounded by my people brings me a lot of happiness. Between competitions, festivals and community events, I spend a lot of time with my students – and that’s just band!” 

Harden looks forward to the future of current and aspiring instructors earning their education through the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music. She prides herself on earning her bachelor’s degree at Georgia Southern and hopes other potential music educators also choose the program and accept a career in enriching lives through music. 

With the sound of her percussion students filling the silence in her classroom, Harden said, “Georgia Southern’s strong foundation and history as a teaching school and vigorous musical program was exactly what I was looking for as a student and what I needed as an educator. I am proud to be an Eagle.”