Thursday, December 29, 2011

LAUSD'S BEYOND THE BELL ALL-DISTRICT MARCHING HONOR BAND CELEBRATED AT DODGER STADIUM

The All-City Band, A 40-Year Participant In the Rose Parade, To Perform Dec. 30 With Other Bands Participating In The Annual Event …maybe for the last time?

Written by Information Provided to San Fernando Valley Sun | http://bit.ly/stlzsm

2011 LAUSD All District High School Band | PHOTO COURTESY OF PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES

Thursday, 29 December 2011 03:25  :: The Los Angeles Unified School District's (LAUSD) Beyond the Bell All- District Honor Marching Band is making to its 40th appearance in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on Jan. 2.

The achievement was recently honored at a special ceremony at Dodger Stadium.

Rick Jackson, Tournament of Roses Parade President and a graduate of University High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), presented the 2012 Parade flag to Tony White, Beyond the Bell's Arts Coordinator and Band Director in the stadium on Dec. 21.

The celebration also included the presence of Sarah Zuno, the first LAUSD high school student in the tournament's 123-year history to be selected as a Tournament of Roses princess. Zuno is a senior at Los Angeles Franklin High School.

Also present were Don Dustin who founded the band in 1972; Frank Harris, Past Band Director; and Simeon Stewart, Past Drum Major.

The band has served as an ambassador for the District and Los Angeles for 39 years. And members of this year's band are eagerly anticipating their chance to appear in the 123rd edition of the parade, which is viewed by millions around the world.

"To me the All-City Band means Life! It also gives me great motivation to go to school every day," said Drum Major De Andre Hogan, a senior at Locke High School.

"Being in the All-City Band gives students from all over the district a chance to come together as one and represent this great city," added Drum Major Jerry Pulido, a junior at Wilson High School.

"The best part of All City Band is that there is no rivalry between schools, we all come together and take pride in being the Honor Band," said Drum Majors Jorge Vargas, a senior at Los Angeles Fairfax High School, and Misael Cortés, a junior at San Pedro High School.

The band represents all of the students, teachers, administrators and employees of the second largest school district in the nation. It provides high school students with the opportunity to develop important life skills such as teamwork, character development, dedication and collaboration. Performers come from 60 LAUSD high schools in East Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, the Harbor Area, and the San Fernando Valley to work and perform in what can be a powerful and rewarding experience for all involved. All racial and ethnic backgrounds are represented in this truly unique program.

Marching in the Rose Parade is a memory band members can treasure for a lifetime. Known as America's New Year Celebration, the annual Rose Parade features spectacular floral floats as well as bands and celebrities. Approximately one million spectators line the parade route, while tens of millions watch the television coverage in more than 200 international territories and countries.

The Rose Parade is broadcast on several television outlets including ABC, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, KTLA (Tribune), NBC, RFD-TV and Univision.

In addition to appearing in appearing in the parade, the various bands will perform in the annual Tournament of Roses' "Bandfest," presented this weekend, Dec. 30-31. Each "Bandfest" performance features a different slate of seven marching bands and lasts approximately two hours. The first performance will be held Friday at 2 p.m.

"Bandfest" is held in Robinson Stadium, on the campus of Pasadena City College.

SEE ALSO: 40th Year May be the Last: FAIRFAX HIGH JOINS LAUSD ALL-DISTRICT MARCHING BAND AT 2012 TOURNAMENT OF ROSES : This year marks the band’s 40th consecutive appearance in the world famous parade. Next year’s not in the budget | http://bit.ly/rQHAtQ

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