Schools
Tartan Band To Perform in Their 9th Rose Parade
Students, staff and faculty are hard at work, preparing for New Year's Day.
The Glendora Tartan Band and Pageantry have been hard at work preparing for their performance in the 125th Rose Parade.
This performance will fall on the 50th anniversary of the Tartan Band's debut in the Rose Parade, which happened in 1964, said Scott Schwarz, Glendora High School band director.
The band was selected for the 2014 Rose Parade after winning the marching band competition at the 2012 Los Angeles County Fair, Schwarz said.
The first rehearsal commenced two weeks ago, as the familiar section of Valley Center Avenue was shut down for band members to rehearsal. As the weeks go by, rehearsals will begin to pick up steam.
Upon the arrival of Thanksgiving break, the band will start more frequent rehearsals. The first week of December, the band will begin practicing every day, Schwarz said.
In August, instructors took the 186 members of the Tartan Band to Pasadena and walked them along the parade route on the sidewalk to give them an idea of where they will go and how long the route is, said Linda Bergslien, assistant director.
"We have to mentally prepare them for a parade as well. They're not just representing this tiny, little community called Glendora, but the United States, California--we're the only California band in the Rose Parade," Schwarz said. "The first hour is pretty easy, the second hour starts getting tough.They're in good shape and they're very well trained."
The Rose Parade is viewed in over 200 territories and countries.
The band will also feature 8th-grade honor musicians. There were 14 chosen from a pool of 50, Schwarz said.
In the weeks leading up to the Rose parade, the band will play in five other events, including Band Fest performances at Pasadena City College and a performance at Disneyland.
For some, performing in the Rose Parade is really a family affair.
Sophomore Austin Dempsey will be performing with the band--on the 50th anniversary his grandmother performed with the Tartan Band in the Rose Parade. One of 2013's seniors has a father who was the drum major for the Tartan Band during the Rose Parade in 1973.
"There's a real sense of community in Glendora. We like that sense of community, that sense of belonging," Schwarz said.
The band will be No. 63 in the parade order.
