Marching on
Behind the stunning musical abilities, crisp uniforms, taut discipline and performance panache of the Rose Parade’s 22 marching bands this year are stories that make the spectacle all the more compelling.
Some members of North Carolina Central University’s Marching Sound Machine (Parade Order: 67) literally wept when they received proper uniforms in 2003. Until band director Jorim Reid persuaded the university to part with the $60,000 to update their clothing, band members had been performing for years in casual-looking wind suits. The uniforms turned out to be influential in the growth of the team — it had just 32 members and was on a shoestring budget when Reid took charge in 2001.
When the band hit 100 members, Reid made good on his pledge to shave his head. These milestones illustrate the band’s meteoric rise under Reid, who had included a Rose Parade invitation in the 15-year plan he drew up when he became the band’s director.
Musicians of the Wyoming High School All-State Band (Parade Order: 89) — representing America’s least populous state — travel up to 500 miles for rehearsals. As some of these students attend schools with fewer than 100 students that can’t support a band program, being a member of the state band is their first and only opportunity to be part of a marching ensemble.
The All-Birdville Marching Band (Parade Order: 15) is named for a Texas town that no longer exists: It was annexed into nearby Haltom City in the early 2000s. This 550-member outfit will be taking 15 different flights from Dallas-Fort Worth to Los Angeles for the Rose Parade, and their equipment will fill three 18-wheelers.
Another example of how much it means to be a part of the Rose Parade comes courtesy of Pennsylvania’s Downingtown High School “Blue and Gold” Marching Band (Parade Order: 79), which required each band member to perform at least 20 hours of community service to be allowed to participate — a thank-you to their supportive community. Collectively, these students are estimated to have put in over 8,000 hours of work that benefitted over 150 organizations.
Los Angeles Unified School District All District High School Honor Band (Parade Order: 37) is drawn from 60 high schools — and because LAUSD has about 700,000 students, you know this band is good!
By contrast, the 225-strong Albertville High School “Aggie” Band (Parade Order: 64) comes from a school with fewer than 1,000 students in a town with about 19,000 residents — an indication of the huge part the band plays in its community.
Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band (Parade Order: 45), which will be appearing in its 82nd consecutive Rose Parade, will honor one of its members who died this year. A set of bells in their front ensemble and an open spot in their Rose Parade ranks will honor the memory of Yla Aquino, 17, of Chino Hills, who died in May from complications from a food allergy. She marched in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Rose Parades in the band’s percussion section on mallet keyboards (bells).
“Yla was a beautiful young lady both inside and out.... I know she’ll be marching with us in spirit,” said band director Kyle Luck, who was himself a member of the band in the 1980s.
Londonderry High School Marching Lancer Band and Colorguard (Parade Order: 74 ) — the largest high school band in New England — lost one of its own when junior Rebecca Tenney, who played the alto saxophone, succumbed to viral meningitis in September. The members of this close-knit outfit from Londonderry, N.H., will wear ribbons on their Rose Parade uniforms as a tribute to her.
Southwest DeKalb High School Marching Panther Band from Decatur, Ga. (Parade Order: 8) appeared in drill scenes in the 2002 movie “Drumline” about a fictional college band. Southwest DeKalb is yet another band in this year’s parade to have endured tragedy in 2010. Freshman flutist Carmen McBride was killed in a car accident on the way home from band practice in October.
—Paul Rogers
Custom Publishing Writer