Rosary’s Asia Avinger is the Orange County athlete of the week for March 16, 2020. (File photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Show Caption1 of 1Rosary’s Asia Avinger is the Orange County athlete of the week for March 16, 2020. (File photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
ExpandThe 44th-annual two-day pre-Rose Parade showcase, sponsored by Remo, Inc., which donates all the ceremonial drum heads to the bands, drew a couple thousand people to Robinson Stadium.
The performances are unique presentations not found in the Jan. 1 Tournament of Roses parade itself. They include choreography, band configurations and arrangements one might not see in the parade. In Bandfest, the bands use the field and its surrounding track as their stage.
"I'm so excited," said Martha Ruiz of Montebello, whose daughter, Isabella, is a cheerleader with the Salesians of Don Bosco Southern California High School Band.
Related: How the Rose Parade’s largest marching band is gearing up for a key moment: ‘the turn’"They've been practicing for a long time now," she said.
"So far it's been exciting," he said. "We're thankful for being here and having the opportunity."
"We reached out to other family members and loved ones," Braziel said, in order to help fund the trip.
"It's a lot of hard work to achieve all this," he said as he and his bandmates lined up to enter the field to perform.
Max Sierra, band director with Pebble Hills, has been leading the way since they were first notified about their inclusion in the parade way back in July of 2023.
"This is a big deal," he said of the Rose Parade.
Related: Rose Parade equestrians showcase talents at Equestfest in Burbank"I think it's great bringing everyone together," he said. "Everyone gets to see all the other groups … I came last year and watched some of the groups."
Not everyone in attendance was directly involved with the parade. Mike Bedford of Ventura brought his school-age kids out to Bandfest to give them a taste of performing in a marching band.
Sunday featured 11 different bands, including a group from Panama, as well as bands from Mississippi, Oregon, and New England. Closer to home were ones from L.A., Carson, and Cupertino.
The Salesians of Don Bosco Southern California High School Marching Band performs during the Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Robinson Stadium in Pasadena City College on Sunday Dec. 29, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
"It's crazy," she said. "It's wild. We've driven really far to get down here and we were all super-excited on the bus and we're like, 'This is really happening.'"
"This is super exciting," she said, noting that they too have worked diligently on endurance exercises and practice.
Related: Marching bands will be beating this company’s drum heads on Jan. 1. Meet Remo"The bands are amazing, as always," he said.
Shen said that being the annual sponsor almost feels like a duty to their company to help make the parade, with which they've partnered for decades, be the best show possible.
Ed Morales, Tournament of Roses president, was also excited to see the bands perform on Sunday.
"These bands are extraordinary," he said. "We're so blessed to get the best bands in the country. It's definitely the best day ever."
Monday's performers, Bandfest 2 (beginning at 10 a.m.)
Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band & Herald TrumpetsThe Lincoln-Way Marching BandAll Star Marching Band MexicoRancho Verde Crimson RegimentHeisinger Pigegarde (Elsinore Girls Marching Band)605 All Star BandThe University of Wyoming “Western Thunder” Marching BandBandfest 3 (beginning at 2 p.m. )
Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band & Herald TrumpetsSeminole High School. Warhawk Marching BandUnited States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum CorpsKyoto Tachibana High School Green BandLos Angeles Unified School District All District High School Honor BandFresno State Bulldog Marching BandPasadena City College is at 1570 E. Colorado Boulevard. Free parking in Structure 4 off Del Mar Avenue.
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