Daniel Ferland Strikes a National Chord:The Chimacum (Valley Near the Water) Marching Band in D.C.!

When the first big notes and booming drums of the Cowboy marching band echo down Constitution Avenue next July, they will carry the sound of a small rural school with a big heart and bold musical voice.

In 2026, Chimacum music teacher Daniel Ferland will lead the Chimacum Marching Band to Washington D.C, as Washington State’s representative in the National 250^th Independence Day Parade. In February, the Washington State Senate recognized the band as “the first and only band in the state chosen for this honor,” celebrating the students’ dedication and the strength of the community behind them.

Ferland, Band Director and Elementary Music Teacher in the Chimacum School District, was also named the 2025 Art Educator of the Year by the Port Townsend Arts Commission. The award honors an educator whose steady leadership, high expectations, and belief in a student’s potential have reshaped what is possible for young musicians in Chimacum.

Over the past several years, he has rebuilt and grown the high school band into a vibrant, cohesive program, expanding participation, strengthening performance, and raising the bar. More importantly, he has cultivated a powerful culture of belonging. Students show up early, stay late, support one another, and take pride in representing their school – and now their state!

That success is reinforced by strong community partnership. The Chimacum band booster club, CHIME, has played a vital role in sustaining the program and supporting the upcoming trip to our national stage. Their behind-the-scenes work reflects that same commitment and pride that students carry into every performance.

A graduate of Georgia Southern University with a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Troy State University, Ferland brings both strong training and decades of experience to his work. From elementary school classrooms to the marching field, his philosophy is simple and unwavering: every student can grow, contribute, and find their place in the music.

From the Valley Near the Water to the nation’s capital, that belief is about to ring out on a national stage.