CALHOUN, GA – Neal Crawford, Band Director for Gordon Central High School, will march in the 2022 Rose Parade this January. The Saluting America’s Band Director project, spearheaded by the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, will march in the annual event conveying the theme, “We teach music. We teach life.”
>span class="m4247789569793300987normaltextrun" data-redactor-span="true">“Performing in the Rose Parade is an absolute honor,” said Crawford when asked how he felt about the opportunity. “I am excited to be one of four band directors from Georgia, representing all the great band directors and band students of our state!”
Crawford, a native of Douglasville, Georgia, attended Jacksonville State University, earning his bachelor's and master’s degrees in Music Education. He has spent 36 years in education, directing bands to achieve superior and excellent ratings in marching and concert band activities in local, regional, and international competitions.
Mr. Crawford recognizes the importance of music education and wishes to acknowledge those who encouraged and influenced his own dedication to music, including his parents, Loy and Lou Crawford, and his own band directors: Robert Price (Chapel Hill Middle School), David White (Chapel Hill Middle School), Danny Echols (Douglas County High School), Tony Plunkett (Douglas County High School), Dr. Ronald C. Attinger (Jacksonville State University), and Dr. David L. Walters (Jacksonville State University).