The Tennesse State University (TSU) marching band, the Aristocrat of Bands, is gearing up to perform at the annual Rose Bowl Parade. On New Year's Day in Pasadena, California, the march will precede the Rose Bowl Game, where Utah State University and Ohio State University will go head-to-head.

A total of twenty-two bands will march at the 2022 Rose Bowl Parade, though only four are affiliated with a college. Notably, TSU's Aristocrat of Bands is the only HBCU band to march at the highly anticipated event. 

"HBCU bands—they put the B in HBCU," Logan Rylander, a Tennessee State junior and saxophonist, said.

In addition to sharing her HBCU band pride, Rylander also discussed how she sees the Rose Parade as an opportunity to help people consider Tennessee State and HBCUs for their college studies.

"The world needs to see that," she said. "California needs to see that."

Rylander also shared that she decided to apply to TSU after seeing the band perform on TV, making the opportunity more personal to her.

"Man, I was once that girl didn't know a thing about Tennessee State, didn't know a thing about the Aristocrat of Bands," she stated. "But I saw them one day, and it made me want to strive–not only to be in the band but to do something more with my life."

A fellow bandmate, Jazmyn Wall, also shared similar sentiments.

"We want to put Tennessee State on the map," Wall said.

This news comes about two years after Alabama State University (ASU) made history as the very first HBCU to lead the event. In addition to ASU, the Florida A&M University (FAMU) marching band also participated in the 2019 Rose Parade.

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