A once-stranded marching band from Panama is one step closer to Rose Parade dream
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The LAUSD All District High School Honor Band performs during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Rockford High School Marching Band from Rockford, Michiagan perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Rockford High School Marching Band from Rockford, Michiagan perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Rockford High School Marching Band from Rockford, Michiagan perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Pella Marching Dutch band from Pella, Iowa perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Pella Marching Dutch band from Pella, Iowa perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Pella Marching Dutch band from Pella, Iowa perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Pella Marching Dutch band from Pella, Iowa perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Pella Marching Dutch band from Pella, Iowa perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Pella Marching Dutch band from Pella, Iowa perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The LAUSD All District High School Honor Band performs during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band from South Korea perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Pella Marching Dutch band from Pella, Iowa perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band from South Korea perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Pella Marching Dutch band from Pella, Iowa perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Spectators brave the rain to watch bands perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band from South Korea perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The LAUSD All District High School Honor Band performs during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band from South Korea perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The LAUSD All District High School Honor Band performs during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Pella Marching Dutch band from Pella, Iowa perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Spectators brave the rain to watch bands perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Pella Marching Dutch band from Pella, Iowa perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Spectators brave the rain to watch bands perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
The Banda de Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Veroguas, Panama perform during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Water splashes off of the tympani as the Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band from South Korea performs during the annual Tournament of Roses Bandfest at Pasadena City College Robinson Stadium on Saturday December 31, 2022. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
A sea of green, orange, red and clear ponchos, umbrellas, hoodies and hats filled the stands on Saturday, Dec. 31, on the second day of the 42nd annual “Bandfest,” showcasing marching bands from all over the world at Pasadena City College ahead of the Tournament of Rose Parade.
Although bands in the early morning performance got rained on, they persevered and entertained the crowd of what by the afternoon was close to 2,000 people.
Kristen Brandt arrived in Pasadena with her mother and three daughters in tow.
All the girls were performing in a marching band.
They left behind nearly 2 feet of snow and temperatures below zero in Rosemount, Minn., and were happy to step off the airplane into the sun – even a clouded Southern California sun.
“It’s an exciting experience to have the opportunity to go to a big event that we usually watch on TV,” Brandt said. “How often do you get to go cross-country and perform with your peers?“
And perform they did on Saturday morning, from traditional American to folk standards from Latin America.
Among the performers was Banda de Música La Primavera from Santiago de Veraguas in Panama, who just a day earlier remained stranded in Riverside, where they practiced on Rancho Verde High School’s football field, hoping and waiting for a dream come true.
On Saturday, in the rain, they were one step closer after a bumpy journey.
The band raised funds, coordinated travel and made arrangements to travel to Southern California. But financial obstacles remained, and the band members needed a place to sleep. The band started raising funds and looked for government grants to fund the trip to the Rose Parade, but by the time the band got visas and booked flights to LAX, there was no money left for hotel rooms, said Jostin Jimenez Ortiz, an assistant director for the band.
That’s when Val Verde School District, based in Perris, in Riverside County — which had maintained a Facebook friendship with their Panamanian counterparts — stepped up, opening its gym doors at Rancho Verde high to offer the band shelter and practice space.
On Saturday, the 190-strong band itself stepped up, performing Panamanian folk songs to a happy crowd, despite the downpour.
“I would hope that if you get a chance to help somebody out, you would,” said Honglac Hathuc, Rancho Verde band director, reflecting on the moment. “That’s what the band world is really, really about. If you need help, help out, if it’s not a hardship on you.”
Despite the rain, the bands were as syncopated and lively as ever as the booming drums and crisp horns echoed through the college and surrounding neighborhoods.
Drums, slide trombones and saxophone musicians, drum majorettes and flag twirlers performed their routines before taking a lap in front of the cheering crowds.
No way it was going to put a damper on the moment for bandmembers and the audience.
“Pella High School got the worst of it,” said Jim Hahn, Pasadena Tournament of Roses music committee advisor. “They are from Iowa. Poor kids. The stands are still full because parents are so supportive of their students.“
Gabe Schott, the co-director of Pella High School Marching Band from Iowa, said his group was happy to be in California.
“We love seeing the palm trees,” Schott said. “It’s definitely warmer from where we are from in Pella, Iowa. Even though it’s raining, our kids are in good spirits. I think the rain kind of energizes the kids.”
Hahn said there are 21 marching band in Monday’s annual Rose Parade.
“From HBCU (historical Black colleges and universities); Mexico, Panama, Japan and Italy,” Hahn added. “They bring their cultures here and one is different than the other and they all are great.”
Zack Baskerville of Los Angeles was among the crowd bobbing their heads to the beat of the drums and sometimes grooving in their seats.
His daughter is a trombone player on the Vista Ridge High School Ranger Band from Cedar Park, Texas.
Baskerville has been to the Rose Parade in the past but not Bandfest.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “I’m amazed at the production that went into this. I’m very impressed. I’m in the entertainment business, so I know what it takes to put something like this together.”
It was all worth the trip for Teresa Whaley from Ontario, Canada, who came to Pasadena to decorate Rose Parade floats and watched Bandfest – which is sponsored by the drum head company REMO — in the rain on Saturday morning.
“We have snow,” Whaley said of her hometown back in Canada. “This is nothing. This is a spring day.”
Photographer Keith Durflinger contributed to this story.
