Rose Parade 2024: Bandfest Day 1 comes in loud and clear at Pasadena City College

Even though the line was long to enter the Tournament of Rose’s Bandfest Day 1 at Pasadena City College on Friday, Dec. 29, spirits were high as many looked forward to the annual showcase of Rose Parade marching bands.

And the bands, selected by the Tournament to march in the Jan. 1 Rose Parade, did not disappoint in this sneak peek of their prowess.

On the bill Friday was Banda Municipal de Zarcero (Costa Rica), The BOSS (Bands of Santiago Sharks) (Corona, Calif.), Na Koa Ali’i’ Hawaii All State Marching Band, Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets, the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band, the Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band, the West Chester University “INCOMPARABLE” Golden Rams Marching Band (Pa.), and the William Mason High School Marching Band (Ohio).

The arrival of the Hawaii All State Marching Band came after a challenging year for some of its members, still recovering from the Aug. 8 fire in Maui that killed at least 100 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings.

They were set to perform at Disneyland on Saturday.

As the sun started to set on the field, Polynesian fa’aumu calls, “CHEEEHOOO!” filled the air and the Na Koa Ali’i – Hawaii’s All State Marching Band – welcomed the crowd to experience their blend of Polynesian culture and percussion.

The performers wore green Haku lei’s on their brow and wrists, paired with traditional grass skirts and floral shirts. The band’s rainbow formation symbolized the performers coming together from across the Hawaiian Islands.

For those more local to Pasadena, the moment was just as meaningful.

Bruce Nixon and Martin Jurquin have watched their godson, Matthew Abutaha, perform in the three Rose Parades.

Abutaha fell in love with band performance as a student at San Gabriel High School and even chose to attend Pasadena City College to continue marching down that 5.5-mile route on Colorado.

“It became kind of his like his ‘thing’ to be marching as many Rose Parades as he can,” Nixon said about the music student. “Really he might actually have been at PCC longer than he should!”

For Jurquin, who’s family immigrated from Costa Rica, the second year with Banda Municipal de Zarcero, sweetened Friday’s celebration even more. The performers’ uniforms were streaked with color, especially a vibrant purple and many in the crowd wore matching jerseys. The performer’s headgear resembling that of Boruca, Costa Rica’s indigenous people’s, regalia and the band’s official Rose Parade pin was a traditional mask — a symbol of wellbeing and protection from evil.

“It’s so nice to see so many people from my home country,” Jurquin added. “I wish I had one of the jerseys they brought from Costa Rica.”

The Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band performing at Bandfest #1, held on Dec. 29th, 2023, a Pasadena City College. #pcchonorband #torbandfest2023 #pasadenacitycollege #tournamentofroses #roseparadebandfest pic.twitter.com/WlANiiO3xi

— Exploring Culture and Arts (@FolkloricoCanal) December 30, 2023

The Greenan family flew in from Ohio to see their 14-year-old son, Jack, play the clarinet for Mason High School. This is their student’s first year with the band program that has been honored by the John Philip Sousa Foundation and previously performed at Carnegie Hall.

Still, Jack, who arrived ahead of his kin, has never traveled without them. Jack’s mother, Chika, added that the moment is extra special because her family in the Philippines are watching Bandfest and the Rose Parade from their home.

“This has been a blast for him,” Jack’s father Wayne said. “He’s making new friends and doing all kinds of stuff that we never thought he would. I’m blown away that he’s doing such a major event.”

Maya Bacrex, 10, does not remember a year without the Rose Parade. Her mother, Arely Payeras, immigrated to Los Angeles from Guatemala just before Maya was born, and Maya said they have attended every Bandfest and Rose Parade ever since.

Payera’s husband sat in the front row of the grandstands, filming every performance to upload it to the couple’s Facebook page, Red Migrante Guatemalteca — a page dedicated to informing Guatemalans abroad.

“I like it because of the culture, and how people get to express with music and what they know from their homes,” Bacrex said.

That display of culture was a big reason why the event is so vital, said Remo’s manager of education, Bruce Jacoby. The drum and drum head company, which sponsors the event and the parade, said it centers on diversity for a universal language — music.

“Remo, as a company, has always been about musical inclusivity,” he said. “Our founder, Remo, was the guy who had a vision over 30 years ago to make affordable indigenous musical, rhythmic instruments from all around the world. Once the instruments became available, people from all over the world started writing music for different styles that were not indigenous to their country.”

All of it came after a Star Spangled Banner at the top of the program, punctuated by a flyover of planes in a V formation.  According to Bandfest officials, this was the first flyover to open the event.

Day 2 of Bandfest is on Saturday. Bandfest 2 is at 10 a.m (pre-Show at 9:30 am). Bandfest 3 is at 2 pm (pre-Show at 1:30 pm). Both are also at Pasadena City College’s Robinson Stadium,1570 E. Colorado Blvd. (enter through Parking Structure 4 off of Del Mar Blvd.) Admission: $25 for adults and free for children 5 and under.

Bandfest 2Albertville High School Aggie Band (AL)Castle High School Marching Knights (IN)Jenks Trojan Pride (Okla.)Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets (Pasadena, CA)Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band (Pasadena, CA)Pulaski High School Red Raider Marching Band (WI)Westlake High School Chaparral Band (TX)

Bandfest 3The “Blue and Gold Marching Machine” (NC)Los Angeles Unified School District – All District High School Honor Band (CA)Niceville High School Eagle Pride Marching Band (FL)Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets (Pasadena, CA)Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band (Pasadena, CA)Pipes On Parade: The Massed Pipes & Drums (Twentynine Palms, CA)Toho Marching Band (Japan Honor Green Band)