LAUSD marching band shows its stuff as it gets ready for the Rose Parade

By Jarret Liotta

The Rose Parade fanfare has already hit the pavement, as members of the Los Angeles All-City Marching Band performed for LAUSD board members and parade officials on Friday morning at Dodger Stadium.

The 350 student-strong LAUSD band, one of the mainstays of the world-famous Rose Parade for the past 52 years, shared a taste of their talent, their moves and their sound, filling one of the big parking lots at the Dodger Stadium with horns, drums, flags and dance.

The band was presented with a ceremonial 2025 Tournament of Roses flag by next year’s president, Mark Leavens, celebrating this year’s theme of Best Day Ever!

“It’s our sincere hope to all of the students and all of the people associated with the all-city, all-district marching band that January 1, 2025, in Pasadena will be one of your best days ever,” Leavens said.

“I’ve been a volunteer in the Tournament of Roses for 30 years,” Leavens said, “and I’ve spent a lot of years … working with the marching bands.” He said that seeing the LAUSD band come marching down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena was one of the highlights of the event for him.

“To the students I want to say thank you,” Leavens said. “I know how much time it takes to give up time away from your family and friends, to train and to study music, and learn your instruments, and work together.”

Band members were enjoying the experience, with big smiles as they took directions from different band leaders, practiced marching and performed several songs — and during water breaks socialized with friends.

Drummer Rose Venabides, 17, was excited to be taking part. “I think it’s pretty nice getting to join this band, getting to know people,” she said.

Several LAUSD school board members were on hand to share their praise for the students, including  LAUSD Board President Scott Schmerelson.

“In case you don’t know this, we love you,” Schmerelson said to the band. “We really, really love you.”

“Our music, drama, theater — all so important to keep our kids in school and to have a full-rounded education,” Schmerelson said. “Music as you’re doing is not an extra, it’s part of the curriculum and it’ll stay part of the curriculum and we owe that to you.”

Board Vice President Rocio Rivas also shared praise. “I know this takes a lot. … For myself, I’m so proud of every single one of you,” she said. A former drill team member, Rivas said she was always impressed when she saw LAUSD’s all-city band in the parade.

“I know your families are so proud of you, your schools, your principals, your teachers are soproud,” she said, “and when you’re in the Rose Parade I’m going to be right there. I bought myticket, and I’m going to be screaming so loud for every single one of you.”

Band director Tony White, who was acknowledged for his 26 years of work with the band, saidstudents from 53 high schools were taking part this year.

Featured tunes for the parade, he said, will include “Before I Let Go,” by Frankie Beverly and Maze; “Illusion,” by Dua Lipa; and “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” by Justin Timberlake.

“This is really our fifth day of rehearsal that we’re putting together for our fifty-second trek down the Tournament of Roses parade route,” White said.

LAUSD Chief Academic Officer Frances Baez shared her excitement, saying, “As a former band member at Palisades High School, I played the saxophone and the clarinet, and it gives me so much joy to be here.”

Baez said, “When you turn that curve with the Los Angeles Unified sign … you always bring tears to my eyes. … And the world will get to see you on stage and acknowledge and appreciate you as much as we do.”

Leavens thanked school officials for their support of music education. “The Tournament of Roses couldn’t put on a parade without students that give their time to music and without music programs like LAUSD’s,” he said.

Betsy Castillo, director of the LAUSD Beyond the Bell program, thanked the Dodger organization for hosting the band.

“Our wonderful Dodgers, they have hosted us at Dodgers Stadium for the past 41 years,” she said. “We are very grateful to the Dodger organization for being so supportive of the Los Angeles Unified School District.”

Jarret Liotta is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and photographer.