A heartfelt performance by the Band Directors Marching Band on December 31, 2025, has captured the attention of millions. The group, consisting of 360 current and former band directors, performed “Amazing Grace” as a tribute to organ and tissue donors and recipients, leaving a profound impact on those in attendance. The emotional rendition took place at the Rosemont Pavilion in Pasadena, California, and quickly went viral, garnering over 1.1 million views and more than 40,000 interactions since its debut on New Year’s Eve.
The performance was particularly poignant for Joshua Boyd, whose late daughter, Emily Nicole Boyd, passed away in June 2018 at the age of eight. Emily was an organ donor, and Boyd was deeply moved as he joined the band in honoring her memory. “I don’t think she would have teased me,” he reflected, recalling how she would have enjoyed the vibrant scene around him, despite the tears he fought back while playing his trombone.
The Band Directors Marching Band, representing all 50 states and several countries, was in Pasadena to perform for Tournament of Roses judges as part of their entry for the 137th Rose Parade. Their float, titled “Banding Together,” was among 16 entries produced by Artistic Entertainment Services. Band director Jon Waters described a chance encounter that led to the emotional performance. After noticing a float featuring images of organ donors, he felt compelled to share a musical moment with the OneLegacy Donate Life families present.
Waters approached OneLegacy officials and requested permission to play “Amazing Grace.” The band had recently received the arrangement and performed it for the families gathered in the chilly warehouse. The first rendition was so moving that audience members requested a repeat performance to ensure everyone could experience the moment. “During that first one, I could hardly play,” Boyd admitted. “The emotions of knowing who we were playing for, and thinking of my own sweet Emily just washed over me.”
The second performance solidified the moment as one of connection and healing. Waters dedicated the performance to all families affected by organ donation. “There was not a dry eye anywhere,” Boyd noted, emphasizing the profound connection between the band and the OneLegacy families.
The mission of the Band Directors Marching Band, inspired by the legacy of educator Michael D. Sewell, centers on “service through music.” As the rain fell on that final day of 2025, the band brought this mission to life, embodying the spirit of community and empathy through their performance.
The impact of the performance extended beyond the musicians. Elsa Garcia-Chau, a recipient of a heart transplant, shared her experience of being among the musicians. “The music, I felt it on my chest, every recess of my being,” she expressed, recalling how the performance resonated with her deeply. Garcia-Chau highlighted the importance of sharing stories about organ donation, advocating for openness about the topic as a way to inspire others.
For Joshua and Kelli Boyd, the decision to donate Emily’s organs was straightforward. “She continued to bless people after her death, blessing three lives with a new heart, kidneys, and liver,” Boyd said. The family honors Emily’s memory through gatherings and shared experiences, ensuring her legacy lives on.
The emotional performance at the Rosemont Pavilion served as a reminder of the power of music and its ability to connect people in profound ways. Waters reflected on the experience, stating, “I have never had a more emotional musical experience than that day in the rain, in the float barn.”
The performance has since sparked conversations about the importance of organ donation and the role of music in healing. The Band Directors Marching Band has been lauded for their dedication to honoring lives through music, and the viral video continues to resonate with viewers, many of whom share their own connections to organ donation in the comments.
As the legacy of Michael Sewell lives on through the Band Directors Marching Band, the 2025 Rose Parade became a testament to the enduring power of love, loss, and the shared human experience.
