With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Prepping for Rose Parade, LAUSD marching band shrugs off rain to practice
Students spent hours practicing in the rain outside of Dodger Stadium to prepare for the Rose Parade .
(
Priska Neely
)
Drum majors lead the band during a performance outside of Dodger Stadium. The band was recognized by the Tournament of Roses for participating in the parade for 44 years in a row.
(
Priska Neely
)
Students rehearsed in the rain for about four hours.
(
Priska Neely
)
Listen
0:55
Prepping for Rose Parade, LAUSD marching band shrugs off rain to practice
More than 300 L.A. Unified students in the district’s All City Honor Marching Band will join bands from across the country in performing at the Rose Parade on New Year's Day.
The band was created 44 years ago and has been part of the Rose Parade every year since. The parade was actually one of the reasons the band was established — to make sure local high schoolers could regularly be part of the nationally televised event.
To build up endurance for the 5.5-mile parade route, the band trains by doing laps outside Dodger Stadium.
"Dodger Stadium is like perfect terrain for it because the hills give us more stamina," said drum major Alyssa Langford.
Sponsored message
At a rehearsal there last week, it rained for hours. Band director Tony White said the rain is a good life lesson.
"It’s about dedication and commitment and, you know, life is not always gonna be sunny," said White, who has been involved with the band for 31 years and started as a student member.
The band, which is all brass and percussion, currently has 360 members from 50 schools across the district. Brass players are recommended by teachers at their schools and percussionists and drum majors must audition.
Yordy Flores is playing his 35-pound sousaphone in the parade for the first time this year. He said after the first day lugging his instrument down the hilly terrain at the stadium, he was very tired. But it was better on day two.
"It’s hard but when you get the hang of it, it’s gonna be easy," said Flores.
Chudi Mbanefo is one of five drum majors in the band. This year, he's a senior so it’s his last year marching in the parade.
"It'll be cool to, like, celebrate New Year's and all, but there’s nothing better than just waking up and being around 300 kids freezing at 3 in the morning," he said. "I’m definitely going to miss it."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
